tibixdev/winboat

📈 Trending★ 20,985TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 4/5ActiveLicenseSetup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Run Windows apps on Linux
      Display as native windows
      Share files between systems
    How it works
      Docker or Podman
      FreeRDP protocol
      RemoteApp technology
    Setup and requirements
      Automated Windows setup
      4GB RAM minimum
      KVM virtualization
      32GB free storage
    Distribution
      AppImage format
      Deb package
      RPM package
      NixPkgs support
    Use cases
      Run Windows software on Linux
      Integrate Windows apps into workflow
      Access Windows tools without VM

mindmap root((repo)) What it does Run Windows apps on Linux Display as native windows Share files between systems How it works Docker or Podman FreeRDP protocol RemoteApp technology Setup and requirements Automated Windows setup 4GB RAM minimum KVM virtualization 32GB free storage Distribution AppImage format Deb package RPM package NixPkgs support Use cases Run Windows software on Linux Integrate Windows apps into workflow Access Windows tools without VM

Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Run Windows-only software like specialized business tools or games on your Linux desktop without a full virtual machine.

USE CASE 2

Integrate a Windows application window directly into your Linux workspace alongside native Linux apps.

USE CASE 3

Access Windows programs while keeping your Linux home directory mounted for seamless file sharing.

Tech stack

TypeScriptElectronDockerPodmanFreeRDPRemoteApp

Getting it running

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires Docker/Podman, Windows container images, FreeRDP setup, and Electron build; multiple moving parts to coordinate.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

In plain English

WinBoat is an Electron application for Linux that lets you run Windows applications as if they were native Linux windows. It works by running Windows inside a Docker or Podman container (a lightweight virtualized environment), then uses FreeRDP and Windows's RemoteApp protocol to display individual Windows application windows directly on your Linux desktop, rather than showing you a full Windows virtual machine window. This means a Windows app can appear alongside your Linux apps as an ordinary window, with your Linux home directory also mounted in the Windows environment for easy file sharing between the two systems. Setting up Windows is handled through WinBoat's interface, where you choose your preferences and the app handles the installation automatically. You can also open the full Windows desktop if needed. Hardware requirements include at least 4 GB of RAM, 2 CPU threads, 32 GB of free storage, and KVM virtualization support enabled in your computer's BIOS. FreeRDP version 3.x with sound support is also required. The project is currently in beta, so occasional bugs are expected. It is built with TypeScript and is available as an AppImage.deb.rpm, or NixPkgs package. It is open source under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

How do I set up WinBoat to run a Windows application on my Linux system?

Prompt 2

What are the hardware requirements to run WinBoat, and how do I check if my system supports KVM virtualization?

Prompt 3

Can I share files between my Linux home directory and Windows applications running in WinBoat?

Prompt 4

How do I install WinBoat on my Linux distribution using AppImage, deb, or rpm packages?

Prompt 5

What should I do if I encounter bugs in WinBoat, and how do I report them?

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

Generated 2026-05-18 · Model: sonnet-4-6 · Verify against the repo before relying on details.