# fmstrat/winapps

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10,217 stars · 450 forks · Shell

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/Fmstrat/winapps
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/fmstrat-winapps.md

## Description

Winapps is a virtualization bridge that allows Windows applications to run on a Linux desktop as if they were native. It uses the Remote Desktop Protocol to stream individual application windows from a background virtual machine or remote server, avoiding the need for a full virtual machine window.

The system identifies installed software by scanning the guest registry to automatically generate native desktop shortcuts and icons. It integrates these applications into the local desktop environment, including the mapping of executables to desktop entries and the configuration of file manager context menus.

The project further coordinates the user experience through shared-folder integration for cross-operating system file access and the use of shell wrappers to trigger remote application launches. It also supports native file associations to open specific file types using the remote software.

## Tags

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Application Streaming](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/virtualization-emulation/virtualization-platforms/virtualization-technologies/virtual-machines/application-streaming.md) — Launches software from a background virtual machine to appear as individual native windows on a Linux host.
- [Guest Host Filesystem Sharing](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/guest-host-filesystem-sharing.md) — Mounts local Linux directories into the guest Windows VM for seamless cross-OS file access.
- [Windows-Linux Desktop Integration](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/windows-linux-desktop-integration.md) — Integrates Windows applications into GNOME or KDE environments to unify the cross-platform user experience.
- [Windows Linux Integration](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/windows-linux-integration.md) — Provides a layer for running Windows software on Linux with seamless window management and shortcuts.
- [RDP Application Wrappers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/windows-service-wrappers/rdp-application-wrappers.md) — Runs Windows applications within a VM and presents them as native windows via Remote Desktop Protocol.

### Networking & Communication

- [Application-Level Virtualization](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/rdp-server-implementations/application-level-virtualization.md) — Uses RDP to render individual Windows applications on a Linux desktop without a full VM window.
- [Remote Desktop Streaming](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/networking-communication/remote-desktop-streaming.md) — Streams individual Windows application windows to a Linux host using the Remote Desktop Protocol.

### User Interface & Experience

- [Virtualization Bridges](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/desktop-applications/virtualization-bridges.md) — Projects virtualized Windows application interfaces onto the Linux host desktop for a native experience.
- [Window Embedding](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/window-managers/window-embedding.md) — Integrates remote application windows directly into the host Linux desktop environment.
- [Desktop Entry Mapping](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/desktop-entry-mapping.md) — Maps Windows executables to Linux desktop entries and file manager context menus for a native experience.

### Part of an Awesome List

- [Virtual Machine Guest Mounts](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/file-sync-and-sharing/virtual-machine-guest-mounts.md) — Cassette allows mounting a local home directory within a virtual machine to enable seamless file access and editing across different operating systems. ([source](https://github.com/fmstrat/winapps#readme))

### Development Tools & Productivity

- [Remote Execution Wrappers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/shell-script-execution-engines/custom-run-scripts/environment-aware-command-executions/guest-command-wrappers/remote-execution-wrappers.md) — Uses shell wrappers to trigger specific application launches inside a background virtual machine.

### Software Engineering & Architecture

- [External Application Integrations](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/integration-extensibility/workflow-automation-integrations/external-application-integrations.md) — Enables running software from a background virtual machine as native applications within a Linux desktop. ([source](https://github.com/fmstrat/winapps#readme))

### System Administration & Monitoring

- [Registry-Based Software Detection](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/registry-based-software-detection.md) — Scans the Windows system registry to automatically identify installed software and generate Linux shortcuts. ([source](https://github.com/fmstrat/winapps#readme))
- [Registry Discovery](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/system-administration-monitoring/system-registry-managers/registry-discovery.md) — Automatically scans the guest Windows registry to discover installed software and generate Linux shortcuts.