I have moved to Linux. Hopefully for a long time. Or even forever. Chose PikaOS with KDE. Based on Debian, but with latest kernels to improve gaming experience. And hopefully make it easier installing various Windows programs I need for work. Everybody got to start somewhere.
To be honest, I have tried Linux before with Ubuntu(back when those eee PC existed). I also used Manjaro and Arch. Even installed Arch without archinstall. Didn’t exist back then. But I have to say Linux has definitely improved a lot. Almost everything just worked now. To be fair. I don’t have nvidia gpu or Intel cpu anymore. Only AMD. So that could be part of why it went smoother.
One small annoyance I got was that my pc could not play from speakers when front audio port was connected by my headset. And now I need to figure out how to install Filemaker 19 pro on my PC. So I can work from home. Winehq is not encouraging
Can someone also recommend a really good replacement for Directory Opus but for Linux? Paid or free software do not matter. As long as it functions like Dopus does.
Filemaker 19 pro … replacement for Directory Opus but for Linux?
So… this is a long shot but I’d recommend to reconsider how you work. Switching to Linux is already amazing while also being demanding. Still, there are genuine alternatives to pretty everything on any OS, not just Windows.
What is more challenging IMHO but also more interesting… is reconsidering how you work, not just the tools you enjoyed so far. So yes, as others pointed in the thread there are custom file managers (beyond the default or popular ones) but, and please hear me out, there is also the command line. I know… I know it is VERY different but that’s a good thing! If you already looked and used an alternative file manager it means you are a power user. The command line (or CLI for short) is precisely a way to have MORE freedom to manager files. There are countless tools that one can combine to modify files. It will take a while to learn but it’s definitely worth it. A good starting point could be https://wizardzines.com/zines/bite-size-bash/
For the other software… well if it’s from work, even though I’d also suggest to look at alternatives, e.g. learning Python/Tkinter or even low code FLOSS alternatives or Web based one… you might not have that freedom. Consequently I’m going to make an even more outlandish suggestion : if your work does not trust you to pick your own tool… maybe reconsider your workplace? I know, bit crazy but long term, might still be worth it.
Apologies for the life changing suggestions!
Oh, with Filemaker my job built custom tool for invoicing, inventory management. Incoming and outgoing ordersystems and more. So its not just to switch tools since with Filemaker I would connect to a Filemaker server at work to do all those things from home. While the server has a Linux version(CLI), the clients do not. Its all GUI. Plus the software is dependent on Bonjour. Since Claris develops Filemaker and Apple owns Claris, Bonjour is used. So it would basically be installing bonjour through wine that needs to interpret apple stuff but in windows language. I think Winapps solution will be the best option for me. https://github.com/winapps-org/winapps/
For the other software… well if it’s from work, even though I’d also suggest to look at alternatives, e.g. learning Python/Tkinter or even low code FLOSS alternatives or Web based one… you might not have that freedom. Consequently I’m going to make an even more outlandish suggestion : if your work does not trust you to pick your own tool… maybe reconsider your workplace? I know, bit crazy but long term, might still be worth it. Apologies for the life changing suggestions!
A lot of things I can switch to other software/use online versions. E-mail, excel, word, pdf. That specific one cant be substituted yet. And switch work for just one software is well drastic 😅
What is more challenging IMHO but also more interesting… is reconsidering how you work, not just the tools you enjoyed so far. So yes, as others pointed in the thread there are custom file managers (beyond the default or popular ones) but, and please hear me out, there is also the command line. I know… I know it is VERY different but that’s a good thing! If you already looked and used an alternative file manager it means you are a power user. The command line (or CLI for short) is precisely a way to have MORE freedom to manager files. There are countless tools that one can combine to modify files. It will take a while to learn but it’s definitely worth it. A good starting point could be https://wizardzines.com/zines/bite-size-bash/
If possible I do not to work in CLI even if I have used mainly chocolatey and winget + similar tools in Windows for installing programs. Except games. Much more convenient writing
choco upgrade all
And having all software updated. Like with sudo pacman -Syu or sudo apt update folowed by sudo apt upgrade. However, I do appreciate the suggestion going all CLI. I’m just not there yet now 🙃
I’ve had no luck trying to get any semi-modern version FileMaker to run in WINE so far. I too came across that same win-apps solution recently. It looks promising, but I haven’t had a chance to build the underlying vm yet. Please dm me if you learn anything useful!
This might be a really ugly solution. But GE-Proton10-12 can install all installation files individually with help of steam. Issue is that filemaker program itself cant find the dependencies even if they are technically installed. But they are installed as their own “games” Still, step in some direction.
I suppose one could move the files from .local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2333569529/pfx/drive_c/Program Files/FileMaker/FileMaker Pro 19/ to .wine instead and hope for the best. And the same with the other programs that are the dependencies
the software is dependent on Bonjour
Might want to look at Avahi instead of relying on the official implementation and Wine.
FWIW CLI is 99% not actually writing with reverse-i-search, it’s mostly typing once then recovering, optionally editing, then executing again.
And yes switching work is drastic… but if it’s 8hrs/day for years on, it might be the most important decision still. I understand it’s not an easy one though so I’m not pushing for it.
Congratulations, but you’ll be hard pushed to get windows apps (especially enterprise ones) working. Will probably need to virtualise windows.
There’s a project that virtualizes those apps via containers VM install
Congrats on switching!
Debian, but with latest kernels to improve gaming experience.
Genuine question as I’m a basic gamer but not a super performance oriented one (namely, I click “Play” and I enjoy with basically default settings) what PikaOS kernel version is available now (6.15.0 AFAICT from their wiki) versus current Debian stable (6.1.140-1 (2025-05-22) AFAICT from
uname) feature is differentiating for gaming?I understand, beyond security implication, that having a newer kernel should be “better” in general terms but if I take e.g 6.15 vs 6.1 what actual difference does it makes? Is it like a 1% FPS increase? It is a feature e.g. FreeSync/FSAA/etc that the driver itself require?
PS: I admit it’s an in depth question because I have frequent “arguments” about people criticizing the “slow” Debian stable so this is kind of an excuse to understand what I am actually missing.
Oh, I wanted stable system but with latest kernel and gaming stuff. PicaOS felt like it would fit the bill. Mainly due to I was skeptical ordinary Debian had support for my 9070XT. I could have used Arch or Manjaro for sure. But I wanted a bit more stability.
Thanks for the clarification, makes me wonder if there are compatibility matrices to check what hardware works where but also automated benchmarks because I’m honestly skeptical of significant performance changes over minor versions except on very specific cases, basically bug impacting performances.
Although I’m not familiar with FileMaker 19, I was also less than impressed by Winehq but it was instrumental in me getting SketchUp Pro 2023 running (with only a few glaring issues lol).
Which features of Opus do you specifically use that aren’t part of regular file managers? KDE’s file manager doesn’t do what you need? Other ones to try are Konqueror (probably the closest to Opus, it should be part of Debian’s repo: sudo apt install konqueror), PCManFM (also part of debian’s repo), Krusader, and Double Commander (found online, third party).
As for Windows apps, do NOT try to run them via Wine. Even if they will install (unlikely most of the time), they will be crashy. Games work because they don’t use much of the Windows API, but apps do, and most of the API is not implemented under WINE. So your best bet is to run a Windows VM. You can setup a “spice” to share files between your VM and your Linux system, and then run these apps under a free version of Windows (you don’t have to pay for a license these days).
Regarding installing windows apps I figure I could do a docker installation and have windows inside it. And having winapps as the tool. https://github.com/winapps-org/winapps/
As for Opus, tabbed work is better in it than Dolphin that is currently installed. I thought Konqueror was split in browser and the file manager years ago. That Dolphin is the replacement file manager. Unless I misunderstood something years ago(wouldn’t be first time).
Konqueror still has a file manager component that is not the same as Dolphin.
As for Windows apps, do NOT try to run them via Wine
I wouldn’t say that’s totally fair. Just like proton with games, wine keeps getting better, and full support is really a case by case basis.
There are not many complex app that are stable under Wine. Notepad++ is so-so stable under it, but things like Affinity Photo is not. I don’t expect FilemakerPro to be either. And you don’t want to lose data with a crash… being a database and all.
I’m not familiar with Directory Opus but try Krusader (sort of a spiritual successor to Norton Commander)
I think dolphin (the KDE default) can pretty much do everything including dual pane these days
Dolphin does have dual pane and can do things like FTP but Krusader has much more keyboard control, more advanced filtering, can use root, is much better at comparing files, and other things I’m sure I’m forgetting.
Thanks for the tip. Will look it up :)
