PlayOnLinux

PlayOnLinux is an open-source and completely free software project that has been designed from the ground up as a graphical user interface (GUI) for the Wine application, allowing you to effortlessly install and use a wide range of software designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Features at a glance

Key features include an easy-to-use and straightforward graphical user interface, support for multiple Wine versions, ability to run local scripts, built-in messenger, debugger and console, support for a wide range of Windows applications, as well as a plugin architecture that will extend the default functionality.

The application is extremely easy to use

A hardware compatibility check will pop-up when the application is opened for the first time, offering you the possibility to help the PlayOnLinux developers to add support for even more hardware components in upcoming releases.

In addition, a first time setup wizard will help you to configure the application and prepare the virtual Windows environment on your Linux-based operating system. It will basically install some Microsoft fonts.

The graphical user interface is straightforward and independent of a desktop environment

PlayOnLinux’s graphical user interface is easy-to-use, straightforward and independent of a desktop environment. It comprises of a main toolbar from where you can install, configure, run, close or remove Windows applications, a search function that allows you to search through the installed Windows apps, as well as right pane with various useful actions.

Installing Windows applications has never been easier with PlayOnLinux

Despite its name, PlayOnLinux can be used to install all sorts of applications that have been designed only for the Microsoft Windows operating system, not only games.

It comes with support for a wide-range of Windows programs and games organized in categories, such as Accessories, Development, Education, Games, Graphics, Internet, Multimedia, Office, Other and Patches.

Each category contains dozens of Windows apps that can be installed with a click of a button. And the best of all is that it will always download and use the Wine version that works best with the software you’re trying to install.

What is new in this release:

• Detect and abort scripts when trying to run 64bit programs with 32bit Wine
• POL_DetectVideoCards: list VGA compatible controllers and 3D controllers (#5012)
• Add support for several other value types than REG_SZ to registry updating statements (#5013)
• POL_Wine_SelectPrefix: abort if no prefix name is provided
• Sort install scripts lists case insensitively (iTunes)
• Fix "hash-bang" line in shortcuts so they're actually executable
• Deprecate the usage of $REPERTOIRE in PlayOnLinux own code
• Translate remaining french comments and identifiers in Bash code
• Improve POL_Wine_PrefixDelete to remove ancillary resources (shortcuts, icons,...)
• Wine versions manager: attributes tell apart used versions instead of unused versions; Add an extra warning when about to remove a version in use
• Avoid Python detection loops
• Display wx version found
• Fix Settings > Internet menu (#4989, thanks to rupert)
• Workaround for Wine bug #37575 (#5023)
• Improve find_binary function and make it public as POL_System_find_file
• Add support for .lnk, .bat and .cmd files to POL_Shortcut and POL_SetupWindow_shortcut_creator
• Added an icon to open the debugger from the installation wizard when POL_Debug_Init has been called (#4948)
• Implement POL_SetupWindow_notice to display important messages, but allow the user to acknowledge them once and for all ("Don't remind me") (#2036)
• POL_OpenShell (Configure > Misc > Open a shell) bug fixes
• Add a warning when OpenGL autotests are missing (user support)
• Make sure "Install non-listed application" link is always visible in install window
• POL_SetupWindow_cdrom: don't suggest "*" when no CDROM has been found
• Remove use of remaining os.system() calls (less overhead, less quoting nightmare)
• Use os.kill() instead of shell command
• Use of "exec" to avoid some useless extra Bash processes
• polconfigurator interface cleanup (no risk of translation breakage)

What is new in version 4.2.7:

• Detect and abort scripts when trying to run 64bit programs with 32bit Wine
• POL_DetectVideoCards: list VGA compatible controllers and 3D controllers (#5012)
• Add support for several other value types than REG_SZ to registry updating statements (#5013)
• POL_Wine_SelectPrefix: abort if no prefix name is provided
• Sort install scripts lists case insensitively (iTunes)
• Fix "hash-bang" line in shortcuts so they're actually executable
• Deprecate the usage of $REPERTOIRE in PlayOnLinux own code
• Translate remaining french comments and identifiers in Bash code
• Improve POL_Wine_PrefixDelete to remove ancillary resources (shortcuts, icons,...)
• Wine versions manager: attributes tell apart used versions instead of unused versions; Add an extra warning when about to remove a version in use
• Avoid Python detection loops
• Display wx version found
• Fix Settings > Internet menu (#4989, thanks to rupert)
• Workaround for Wine bug #37575 (#5023)
• Improve find_binary function and make it public as POL_System_find_file
• Add support for .lnk, .bat and .cmd files to POL_Shortcut and POL_SetupWindow_shortcut_creator
• Added an icon to open the debugger from the installation wizard when POL_Debug_Init has been called (#4948)
• Implement POL_SetupWindow_notice to display important messages, but allow the user to acknowledge them once and for all ("Don't remind me") (#2036)
• POL_OpenShell (Configure > Misc > Open a shell) bug fixes
• Add a warning when OpenGL autotests are missing (user support)
• Make sure "Install non-listed application" link is always visible in install window
• POL_SetupWindow_cdrom: don't suggest "*" when no CDROM has been found
• Remove use of remaining os.system() calls (less overhead, less quoting nightmare)
• Use os.kill() instead of shell command
• Use of "exec" to avoid some useless extra Bash processes
• polconfigurator interface cleanup (no risk of translation breakage)

What is new in version 4.2.6:

• Use $ POL_TERM more Consistently, allow POL_TERM global configuration override. Beware, the carrier must terminal -T and -e options, so gnome-terminal Does not Qualify (gnome-terminal.wrapper Does though)
• Add a function to compute a hash of a POL_Wine_VersionSignature Wine Package
• Python version string extraction hardening (# 4895)
• POL_System_PartInfo APPROBATION thru mount filesystems point INSTEAD of device (Btrfs subvolumes compatibility)
• Modify bash / document_reader to pass extra arguments Unchanged ( http://www.playonlinux.com/en/topic-12519-Pass_arguments_to_PDFXChange_Viewer.html )
• Remove "skipped lines" messages When The debugger gets the focus back
• POL_Shortcut: do not overwrite $ binary logging to Improve
• mainwindow: make boxen alert child of the main window So They can not get lost behind --other windows
• Prevent POL_Download_Resource clobbering $ APP_ANSWER
• Critical error: wget throwing SSL error when Install Components uses wget (bug 5002)

What is new in version 4.2.5:

• Support for wxpython 3.0
• Compatibility with Debian 8.0
• Compatibility with next version of Mac OS (10.10 Yosemite, tested on DP7)
• Mac OS: the bundled wine version is now 1.7.26, and uses winemac drv (far less XQuartz depencies)
• Mention URL in POL_Download and POL_Download_Resource error messages (should help with user support)
• Add POL_Config_Win16 to check if the host can run win16 programs, see http://linux-kernel.2935.n7.nabble.com/tip-x86-urgent-x86-64-modify-ldt-Ban-16-bit-segments-on-64-bit-kernels-td838675i120.html
• Various bug fixes

What is new in version 4.1.9:

• Packages page ehanced. Little by little, you will see the real names of the packages, accompanied with icons instead of codenames
• Possibility to overwrite existing installs without causing bugs.
• Enhancement in localisations
• Virtual desktop are now compatible with wine 1.5.16+
• Bug #1486 should be fixed
• Bug #1446 fixed

What is new in version 4.1.1:

• Icewind Dale II was missing from the family of Black Isle cRPGs, this is now fixed.
• The widescreen mod installer has been updated so it can be used with this game, too.

What is new in version 4.0.16:

• everything that happens to virtual disks is logged to simplify Wine debugging
• automatic management of Gecko installation
• PlayOnLinux can start an executable from the terminal
• playonlinux file.exe
• easy access to the virtual disks right from your home directory
• check if your videocard is correctly setup
• support for Desura and Origins
• possibility to break out of a stuck installation processes
• Coloring of terminal output
• Wine crashes detection
• No more "winemenubuilder not found" messages
• PlayOnMac starts XQuartz on its own, fixing a bug experienced by many people
• and many bugfixes
• At the same time, the library has been enriched to support a collection of games available from Good Old Games; classical games of adventure, role playing, action, strategy, there's something for everyone...
• Advent Rising
• Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
• Arma: Cold War Assault
• Broken Sword 1: Shadow of The Templars
• Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror
• Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon
• Divine Divinity
• Dungeon Keeper 2
• Enclave
• Fallout
• Fallout 2
• Far Cry
• Flatout
• Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
• Giants: Citizen Kabuto
• Ground Control 2
• Incoming and Incoming Forces
• Iron Storm
• Jack Orlando: A Cinematic Adventure
• Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition
• Nox
• Painkiller: Black Edition
• Riven: The sequel to Myst
• Sanitarium
• Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator
• Temple of Elemental Evil (+patch)
• The Witcher Enhanced Edition Directors Cut
• Two Worlds: Epic Edition

What is new in version 4.0.14:

• New features:
• Wine version windows remade. It's a lot more adapted to small screens
• Ability to choose icon size in main windows
• Size and windows position is saved when PlayOnLinux/PlayOnMac is closed
• wine 0.9.x support (wineprefixcreate)
• New plugin : PlayOnLinux Vault.
• Added POL_Wine_X11Drv (Bug 543)
• Bugs fixed:
• Slow connexion on IPV6 machines ("PlayOnLinux's website isn't available"), increased timeout.
• Register link on login window goes to the good website (Linux or Mac)
• Default size of main window is changed, so that we can see the whole toolbar.
• Bug fixed in python detection
• Bug fixed into POL_Wine_wineboot
• Bug fixed into POL_Wine_OverrideDLL
• Bug fixed into POL_LoadVar_ProgramFiles
• Bug #429 fixed : Unable to use PlayOnLinux Offline
• Messenger is fixed
• Bug report is fixed
• Code is cleaned

What is new in version 3.8.12:

• The following installers have been updated:
• Borderlands (clean-up)
• Bulletstorm (Wine version update)
• Dead Rising 2 (clean-up)
• Dragon Age 2 Demo (Wine version update and bug fix)
• Fallout 3 (installer rewritten from scratch)
• Fallout 3 - DLC (clean-up)
• Fallout 3 Patch 1.07 (installer added)
• Steam (Wine version update)
• The Witcher Patch 1.5 (bug fix)
• These installers will no longer work with PoL versions prior to 3.8.12.
• Note: Due to a mistake (fixed yesterday), all Wine builds had faulty sound support, so we strongly suggest that you delete and reinstall PoL's Wine builds using the Manage Wine versions option.
• Dragon Age 2 now works with PlayOnLinux :
• We bring you this day the sequel to one of the best RPGs for PC, Dragon Age 2.
• It is actually a role-playing/action game. You are Hawke, a human hailing from the city of Lothering. You can choose the gender and class of you character, before setting out on a journey to the city of Kirkwall. You can always choose your way in the dialogues and the fighting system allows you to switch between strategy and real-time action.

What is new in version 3.8.5:

• Besides fixing this (major) bug, we made another change, to a function used by scripts to create shortcuts. Its arguments had been inverted compared to PlayOnMac, which made compatibility between PlayOnMac and PlayOnLinux rather difficult.

What is new in version 3.8.3:

• PlayOnLinux Installers Updated (Act II)
• Worms Reloaded now on PlayOnLinux
• PlayOnLinux Installers Updated
• Blur is available
• Spam mail
• 2 Ubisoft games available

What is new in version 3.7.3:

• PlayOnLinux automatically extract icons during the installation process to use them in the main menu.
• A bug corrected preventing user from changing a program icon
• Few translations were corrected
• Definitive correction (we hope) of $PROGRAMFILES variable problem. Script are being rewritten.
• PlayOnLinux is now available in Greek (Thank you kapcom01)

Requirements:

• Wine
• Bash
• Python > 2.4
• Wxwindows bindings for Python > 2.6
• Lynx
• xterm
• unzip