SAINT PAUL, MN - (July 19, 2005) - CodeWeavers, Inc., the leading Windows-to-Linux software developer, today announced a series of major improvements to the installer elements in Wine, the open source compatibility software that allows Windows applications to run natively on Linux. With these upgrades to Wine and its proprietary CodeWeavers counterpart, CrossOver Office, CodeWeavers is ready to issue a bold "Installer Challenge" to Windows developers: send us your Windows application, and we will guarantee to make it install properly in Linux.
CodeWeavers is the primary corporate backer of The Wine Project, the open source initiative to allow PCs to run Windows applications natively within the Linux operating system. Today dozens of the world's most popular Windows applications, from the Microsoft Office suite to Microsoft Internet Explorer and Visio, Intuit Quicken, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, Apple QuickTime and many other applications, install and operate smoothly on Linux using CodeWeavers' Wine-based utility application, CrossOver Office.
In recent months CodeWeavers has made significant improvements to Wine, including the software's MS Installer (Microsoft Installer) and COM (Component Object Model) portions, increasing by threefold the likely successful first-time installs of applications from the vast Windows universe. The installer improvements bring CrossOver Office closer to its goal as the essential application for millions of Linux desktop users around the world.
"Our mission from the outset has been to give enterprises and individuals alike the ability to combine the rich global array of Windows applications with the inherent stability and low cost of Linux," said Jeremy White, chief executive officer of CodeWeavers. "After six years and nearly 100 man-years of work, we are able to satisfy that objective with more confidence than ever before."
Installer Challenge
CodeWeavers' Wine Installer Challenge gives Windows developers a nearly effortless
path to claims of Linux compatibility. To take part in the Installer Challenge, developers must
only do two things: one, supply a license for their Windows application to CodeWeavers; and two,
agree to running a nightly regression test to prove that the install is working.
All Windows application developers and companies are eligible for the Wine Installer Challenge at no cost; however, CodeWeavers will give first priority to CrossOver Advocates, those individuals and companies who have committed to sharing their knowledge about CrossOver performance for a specific application. Second preference will be given to all Windows ISVs (Independent Software Vendors), and finally to anyone, developer or not, who wishes to establish assured CrossOver installation for a specific application.
Software developers can run their own installation test for their Windows
applications via CXTest, a CodeWeavers open source program that provides regression testing
facilities for systems using X11, the Linux display technology. CXTest, which is available
at no charge at www.cxtest.org, automates basic X Window
functions including finding X Windows by title or graphic picture.
Deadline participation in the Wine Installer Challenge is December 31, 2005.
To sign up for the Wine Installer Challenge, or for more information about Wine and CodeWeavers'
unique CrossOver Office technology, go to
www.codeweavers.com.
About CodeWeavers, Inc.:
Founded in 1996 as a general software consultancy, CodeWeavers today focuses on the development of Wine and other Linux programming solutions. The company's goal is to bring expanded market opportunities for Windows software developers by making it easier, faster, and more painless to port Windows software to Linux. CodeWeavers is recognized as a leader in open-source Windows porting technology, and maintains development offices in Minnesota, California, the Netherlands, and Germany. The company is privately held. For more information about CodeWeavers, log on to www.codeweavers.com.
CrossOver Office is a trademark of CodeWeavers, Inc. All other technologies and brand names are used for information only and remain trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
