Use Graphical Linux Apps on a Windows Machine

This is how I set up my windows box to be able to use apps on my linux box. Notice how the linux apps are free to move in the windows desktop environment. They can be minimized to the taskbar. You can copy/paste between crossplatform programs, etc.

Step 1 Install Cygwin

google it and download it

Comments

[gtoal]

Another way to set up the windows side of X (and install a local Linux while you're at it) is to install AndLinux. Except for a win7 64bit issue, it may actually be easier. (64bit win7 requires you to run under XP emulation mode)

[Cracknel]

I prefer it the other way: running Windows applications in Linux with Wine.

[!Andrew_Modder!]

1st off ***photoshop on windows!**** wtf? its allready for windows LOL, and second off, i dont really see a diff :-\

[Zionpsyfer]

Photoshop isn't in any of those screenshots. Xcalc may not be worth the trouble of setting up remote X sessions, but apps like xephem, emacs, gvim, or any other remote apps you'd like to run from a server definitely come in handy. Having just Cygwin installed can be useful for a number of us geeks. Can't' say I blame you for not seeing a difference as most people wouldn't. Having not used anything but windows.

[erckgillis]

old... Try putting Linux ON TOP of Windows via a Boot from USB. ...don't just "remote login" via X11 a Motif session on another box. Boot Linux from you Windows XP/Vista/W2K from USB stick...and leave nothing behind on the system or harddrive!... see my instructables

[technosapien]

Very nice tutorial. There is also a livecd called XLiveCD you can use to do the same thing, when it auto-runs it will do an install and run from the CD. all you need to do is make sure your ssh server is configured right. This way you don't have to install anything... though installing to HD may run faster.

XLiveCD

[jokerulez]

hey, isn't it simplier with nomachine NX client/server solution? Give a look at www.nomachine.com. It got exactly the same result, adding compression to x-window roundtrip. So you don't need to be in a local network with your linux box. It works quite well even if you are on a slower link.

[rhett]

I don't know. I've never used NX's product. Do you use their product or are you affiliated with them? It looks like subscriptons start at $500. Maybe you should post an instructable about it.

[jokerulez]

NX releases many components under the GPL.
There is also FreeNx, a kde supported version of NX server/node. Anyway NX provides a free edition of his great peace of software. Try here: http://www.nomachine.com/select-package.php?os=linux&id=1

[rhett]

There are definitely a few ways to do this. I found that it was very hard to find a tutorial on how to do it simply from a google search. Many other methods require a little more configuration, as well. For example, you need to make sure that you "export $DISPLAY=yourhost:0.0" or something in your bash shell.

The advantage of this method is that most of that config stuff is already contained in what cygwin downloads, and they give you that nicely pre-made batch file to just click on.

Another nice thing about this method is that you can still use Putty along with the X11 stuff cygwin installs if you prefer it to cygwin. I assume you could also use Cygwin with Xming as well.

I forgot to note, in case it isn't clear to people, that the program is being run on the linux box, and is just being displayed on your windows box. If you have a slow network connection, or latency issues, you will experience some lag. However, this works great when your linux server is on an internal network. You don't hardly notice any lag.

[loop]

I use PuTTY and Xming to do the same thing, much less to download and install.

[paperrhino]

Cygwin also has a large number of Linux apps ported to it so if you don't have Linux running somewhere but just gotta have some Linux app, there might be a Cygwin port of ti somewhere.

[reed]

Isn't it nice? And consider that what you look at (applications that are visible from remote servers) is all technology of the seventies :)

[Magicfap]

I will have to do this sometime soon, awesome. Very nice job (of course I don’t know enough to tell if this actually works, but I'll take your word for it.