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Something like: WINE is a translator that allows Windows programs (those that have an .exe extension) to talk to other Operating Systems. or perhaps: Many pe

Something like: WINE is a translator that allows Windows programs (those that have an .exe extension) to talk to other Operating Systems. or perhaps: Many people need wine if you want them to work. A windows program on Linux is no exception.

justin66 13y ago
> WINE is a translator that allows Windows programs (those that have an .exe extension) to talk to other Operating Systems. I'm sure the aforementioned freshmen would like a no-bullshit explanation for why "emulator" hurts the WINE people's feelings but "translator" does not. It's always been a mystery to me.
- HardlyYakka 13y ago
  > no-bullshit explanation Hah! Not really possible, especially considering that the project used to be called windows emulator: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/windows-emulation/wine-faq/ I'd say they've changed the meaning so they can reinforce that it's not just another virtual machine ( and that it's faster than one). Which is true, it doesn't emulate another hardware architecture's calls, just the kernel and OS magic needed. In that regard, think of say a console game or arcade game emulator on a computer- that will have to emulate the whole architecture of said game system as well as the game. Contrast that to a game program for the the x86 architecture, but not for windows- you could run it natively on windows providing you change everything the game asks for that's part of the Gamesystem380 system into something windows understands, and vice versa.