Aura32

Get started

What you’ll need, how you use it, and where your files end up.

Aura32 isn’t released yet, so there’s nothing to download. This page shows how it works today, so you know what to expect. See the roadmap.

What you’ll need

A 64-bit Linux PC. Everything else is optional and depends on the programs you run.

  • A 64-bit x86 PC with LinuxIntel or AMD. ARM computers and macOS aren’t supported.
  • SDL2, for windows and soundPrograms show their windows and play sound through it. Most desktops already have it.
  • A Vulkan driver, and DXVK for Direct3DFor 3D. DXVK isn’t included: you add your copy with one command.
  • WebKitGTK 4.1, for web-based appsApps that show their interface through WebView2 draw it with WebKitGTK.
  • NVIDIA’s driver and CUDA, for GPU computeOnly for programs that compute on an NVIDIA GPU.
  • Microsoft’s free runtimes, when an app asksSome apps want the Visual C++ runtime or the .NET Framework. You download them from Microsoft; Aura32 installs them.

Using it

One command, aura32, in a terminal.

  1. Check the program

    See what it needs, and whether Aura32 has it, before anything runs.

    # what it needs, and what is missing
aura32 check Setup.exe

  2. Install it

    Run its installer as you would on Windows. MSI and MSIX packages have their own commands.

    # an installer, as on Windows
aura32 Setup.exe
# an MSI package
aura32 msiexec /i package.msi
# an app package
aura32 msix install App.msixbundle

  3. Run it

    Start the program by its file, or a packaged app by its name.

    # a program, by its file
aura32 ~/.aura32/default/drive_c/Program\ Files/App/App.exe
# the app packages you installed
aura32 msix list
# one of them, by the name msix list shows
aura32 msix run 'Publisher.App_id!App'

  4. Add what an app asks for

    Microsoft’s runtimes and DXVK go in with one command each.

    # the Visual C++ runtime
aura32 vcredist vc_redist.x64.exe
# the .NET Framework 4.8
aura32 netfx install ndp48-x86-x64-allos-enu.exe
# DXVK, for Direct3D
aura32 dxvk ~/dxvk/x64

Your files

Programs see your own folders and disks. Nothing of yours is moved or copied.

C:
A folder of its own, ~/.aura32/default, holding Windows’ folders, installed programs and the registry.
Documents
Your own Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music and Videos folders.
D: and up
Your home folder and the disks you mount, each keeping its letter. A USB stick gets a letter when you plug it in.
Z:
Your whole Linux file system.

Want separate setups for different programs? Give each its own folder with --prefix=. aura32 prefix shows the drives.