That makes sense to me. Further down in the comments they were talking about how they wanted to run Adobe Premiere and Fusion 360 in WINE, so I already felt like open source wasn’t their reason for choosing Linux, but of course it doesn’t have to be, there are many other benefits. They expressed in a comment to me that the only reason that they’re using Linux is that they dislike Microsoft and Apple more.

I did no such thing. The hostility came with the accusations of “bitching and moaning” because I said I didn’t want to do it the way they suggested, which was also not what I asked for.

I’ll quote your first reply verbatim:

Linux users have a habit of saying “Sure! you can just…” without ever elaborating on how ridiculously complicated it is or the level of knowledge required.

That is coming into the conversation with hostility. You generalize a population (Linux users), insult them, and then complain about their comment by implying it isn’t helpful. The solution to this is to simply ask something like “Okay, how do I do this?” and not start your reply with what is essentially “You Linux users are never helpful, tell me how to do it instead of just suggesting an option”.

You’re just lying. That never happened.

Need I repeat? Here’s the generalizing insult:

Linux users have a habit of saying “Sure! you can just…” without ever elaborating on how ridiculously complicated it is or the level of knowledge required.

Perhaps you fail to grasp how this is an insult, so let me elaborate (because clearly you’ll get mad and whine that I didn’t elaborate if I don’t). You open with a generalizing statement that implies that all Linux users are unhelpful. You imply that the solutions they give are all, in your own words, “ridiculously complicated”, and you impolitely demand that they explain further. Any normal person who has any respect for other people would politely ask them to explain in more detail; it’s as simple as that. If you don’t think that it answers your question, either don’t reply at all, or reply by saying politely that you don’t think this is a solution, and why.

I don’t want to do what they said I can do. It’s not what I asked for.

They actually provide a trivially easy solution to exactly what you’re asking. All you do is install the base WINE package from your software repository like any other app, and then right click on the .exe and run in WINE. It will be saved as a default action, so any .exe you click on past that point will automatically open in WINE. You asked if it was possible to create an OS so that all .exe files automatically open in WINE, and that’s the solution; yes it is possible and here’s how, essentially. Most mainstream OSs don’t do this by default, as WINE is not a default package since you’re expected to run applications designed for your distro, not ones packaged for Windows. ZorinOS does this by default, so yes it is possible to create one, or you can convert your existing OS to do exactly this by simply installing WINE (no configuration needed, just install from your app store or package manager), as the user suggested. WINE will automatically manage the installs and add entries to your application manager so you can run applications installed in WINE like any other program in your machine. If you’re using an installer, it will add the entry after installation, but if you’re using portable .exe files, you will just double click on them (or single click if you use one of those distros that uses single click instead of double click to open a file). You just need to make sure that you give permission to the file to be executable (right click and go to properties or permissions depending on your file manager, then tick the box that suggests allowing the file to be executable). For most people, having WINE installed by default is just needless bloat, which is again why you don’t see it installed as a default package in almost any distro.

Lying again…Lies…More lies…Still lying

This is so childish and unnecessary that it doesn’t even warrant a response.

That’s a good question.

Then answer it. If you’re going to ask for help here, you should show an ounce of respect to the people here who are trying to help you. You clearly aren’t going to be popular in this community if all you do is insult everyone else in it.

Simply because I have more disdain for MS and Apple but I need a computer to do things.

Then you better change your attitude. If you’re going to treat the people helping you here like shit, no one will want to help you. Or you could just figure things out on your own somewhere else.

It makes no sense because it’s not happening. You’re imagining it.

Ah, the classic gaslighting. You know that doesn’t work when we can see your previous comments, right? Or are you delusional? Are you so paranoid that everyone is out to get you that you’re incapable of recognizing that you’re the one creating this problem?

Also they weren’t helping me. If I ask you for cheese and you hand me an Apple and say “Eat this, dumbass!”, is that helpful?

I don’t see the analogy here. Your post asks if it’s possible to create an OS that runs .exe files through WINE like how Steam lets you run games through Proton. The user replied saying that WINE does this by default, and adds entries into your application shortcuts so you can run then like any other program. That’s how Steam does it with games, too. How is that not a solution? They answered your question exactly.

the aggressive tone is unnecessary.

Sorry, but I throw politeness out the window when I’m conversing with people who are disrespectful and insulting to the community I’m a part of. You met us with aggression, you shouldn’t expect anything but the same from our replies. I’m not going to be polite and reserved with someone who clearly won’t reciprocate it. If you want polite discourse, don’t open up by generalizing and insulting the entire community that you’re posting to.