Proton and non-steam games/software

[JAGIELSKI]

As I want to move to Linux at some point (likely after Win10 reaches EOL as I am too lazy to do it otherwise) I've been researching Proton and seen that it gives much better compatibility than "regular" wine. My question is though, can it be used to run non-steam apps/games? So I can attempt to use proton if my software that I need doesn't work on Wine before looking for alternatives.

[Mailer]

It likely depends on what those non-steam games/software are, but as I understand it, generally Wine and Proton (patched Wine) are pretty close together in what they do, apart from a few experimental features, where one steps before the other.

You can supposedly* put Proton on non-steam shortcuts of course, but you may also want to look into Lutris for example.

* https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/be4e46/how_to_play_nonsteam_games_through_proton_this/

Windows regrettably has a large stranglehold on a lot of pure software, like CAD software, which is unfortunate, but by the end of Windows 10 support, we may hope for Linux to be better adopted.
Otherwise, I would maybe look into incorporating Linux-Windows dual-booting, or just having a safe virtual environment for old Windows OS-es, if Windows truly turns to ♥♥♥♥ and you don't want to use it.

I know I'm in for a shaky time when Windows 10 ends support, as I too am looking to migrate into Linux at that point, as I generally don't like what Microsoft is doing with Windows.

[DevaVictrix]

I’ve only tried it with games and, yeah. You can get games from epic, ea, Ubisoft etc and they work fine. Wargaming launcher didn’t work easily so wine only for that. I’ve never tried a regular app but if you’re planning on a switch to Linux the biggest hurdle is forgetting about your windows apps.

Edit: after thinking about it, I think I installed all game launchers with wine but play them all with proton.

[DonMcK]

Works quite well, using Protontricks allows for quite a bit of configuring if required. Actually used it to add EA App and Ubisoft Connect and their associated games.

It may need some effort, but there is quite a bit of help out on the web. So far I've managed to add 140+ games from Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter up to Battlefied V and most recently Talos Principle 2. Only had 2 games that won't run - Gears of War (original DVD version) and Rainbow 6 Siege

[JAGIELSKI]

引用自 DevaVictrix：

I’ve only tried it with games and, yeah. You can get games from epic, ea, Ubisoft etc and they work fine. Wargaming launcher didn’t work easily so wine only for that. I’ve never tried a regular app but if you’re planning on a switch to Linux the biggest hurdle is forgetting about your windows apps.

Edit: after thinking about it, I think I installed all game launchers with wine but play them all with proton.

I've used Linux in the past, so not like I'm a noob or anything, just have this very specific question regarding proton.

And yeah, I already use a lot of open source stuff, it's just that sometimes there's no good open source alternative to certain software (either commercial or free) so wine/proton are the only options. Also certain software you need to interact with government in Poland if you have a company is Windows-only, so if you want to use Linux in your business, you actually need wine/proton.

[PopinFRESH]

Yes you can use it with non-Steam games. It is just a fork of Wine.

For non-Steam games look into Lutris and/or Heroic Launcher as they will make other storefronts easier to manage like Steam on Linux.

Also look into Proton-UP / Proton-UP Qt which is a GUI manager for installing and managing Proton versions.

Depending on the Linux distro you use all of those should be available through the package manager/app catalog.

Also, Valve does still intend to release SteamOS 3 as a generic Linux distro for gaming so hopefully they get that done before Windows 10 EoL. Otherwise Pop!OS is a good alternative with decent support for Nvidia drivers and easy installation of Steam, Proton-Up, Proton-Up Qt, and Lutris through their Pop! Shop; and you can install Heroic Launcher through snap.

https://support.system76.com/articles/linux-gaming/
https://heroicgameslauncher.com/
https://lutris.net/

EDIT: In regards to running applications/non-games, If you aren't able to run them via Wine then Proton is unlikely to change that. Proton is a fork of Wine that is extended to support graphics features and add compatibility for Windows game APIs. It isn't going to do much in the way of "working for applications where Wine doesn't work".

[JAGIELSKI]

引用自 PopinFRESH：

EDIT: In regards to running applications/non-games, If you aren't able to run them via Wine then Proton is unlikely to change that. Proton is a fork of Wine that is extended to support graphics features and add compatibility for Windows game APIs. It isn't going to do much in the way of "working for applications where Wine doesn't work".

The kind of apps that I use and worry may not work with Wine are using graphics/game APIs extensively though. Stuff like 3d modelers, modding tools, etc. Not like I would run Word on Proton, lol.

[lsdninja]

Bottles[usebottles.com] is another option for non-Steam stuff. I’ve gotten a bunch of stuff running using it, right up to my Epic copy of Jedi: Fallen Order (which Heroic doesn’t support due to the EA apl requirement).

[PopinFRESH]

引用自 Singing Dragon 69：

引用自 PopinFRESH：

EDIT: In regards to running applications/non-games, If you aren't able to run them via Wine then Proton is unlikely to change that. Proton is a fork of Wine that is extended to support graphics features and add compatibility for Windows game APIs. It isn't going to do much in the way of "working for applications where Wine doesn't work".

The kind of apps that I use and worry may not work with Wine are using graphics/game APIs extensively though. Stuff like 3d modelers, modding tools, etc. Not like I would run Word on Proton, lol.

Yeah, just mentioning it as I didn't notice the "apps" part of your post initially. Check out Proton-GE (Glorious Eggroll) as their community extended version often adds even further support than what Valve has wrapped up in Proton major version releases.

引用自 lsdninja：

Bottles[usebottles.com] is another option for non-Steam stuff. I’ve gotten a bunch of stuff running using it, right up to my Epic copy of Jedi: Fallen Order (which Heroic doesn’t support due to the EA apl requirement).

^ Also bottles. Forgot to mention that as well. Good call out.

[KalGimpa]

引用自 lsdninja：

Bottles[usebottles.com] is another option for non-Steam stuff. I’ve gotten a bunch of stuff running using it, right up to my Epic copy of Jedi: Fallen Order (which Heroic doesn’t support due to the EA apl requirement).

this program is flippin awesome!!!!

it fills in all the gaps for me that steam couldn't

[JAGIELSKI]

Thanks for the advice guys, will be really useful when Win10 reaches EOL or I stop being lazy and just install Linux.