Wine 10 has just been released, offering more than 6,000 updates on its release log. The emulator, celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year, allows Linux/Unix users to seamlessly run Windows software without the need for Windows itself, unlike virtual machine solutions.

To use Windows software on a Linux OS, one must install the Wine compatibility layer. Wine, known as “Wine Is Not an Emulator,” provides a runtime environment that enables running Windows applications directly on Linux without virtualization. Originally created in 1993 by Bob Amstadt and Eric Youngdale, Wine serves as an open source implementation of the Windows API for Unix-based systems over the years.

The latest Wine 10 release offers various enhancements, including full support for the ARM64EC architecture and hybrid ARM64X modules. Notable updates include improved OpenGL and High-DPI support, Vulkan enhancements, Direct3D updates with dynamic state extensions, and support for OpenGL within the Wayland driver for better Linux integration. Additional improvements involve HID and touchscreen input handling, enhanced Unicode and locale compatibility, and RPC/COM support on ARM platforms.

Moreover, developers can benefit from process elevation, enhanced serial port event handling, support for modern vector extensions like AVX-512, updated build tools, static analysis options, and bundled library upgrades such as Capstone, Vkd3d 1.14, and FFmpeg. Wine 10 marks a significant milestone in bridging Windows and Linux environments, offering a range of technical advancements and features for users seeking seamless compatibility between the two operating systems.