The Loss32 project develops a Win32/Linux distribution that combines the Linux kernel with a Windows-style graphical environment built on top of Wine and ReactOS custom components. The distribution is focused on recreating the Windows desktop environment and providing the means to seamlessly run Windows applications, but also supports running traditional Linux programs. The first prototype of Loss32 is scheduled to be published this month.
In terms of its goals, the project is very close to ReactOS and also tries to recreate a Windows-style operating system, but differs from it by refusing to use the Windows NT kernel. According to the creators of Loss32, the main factor slowing down the development of ReactOS is the attempt to create their own analogue of the Windows NT kernel, which does not allow for proper hardware support, stability and functionality. Loss32 decided to focus on creating a runtime environment for Windows applications, using a system environment based on the well-performing Debian 13 and Wine.
Unlike traditional Linux distributions, Loss32 replaces user space components with Wine whenever possible, and the desktop environment is based on Win32 applications and libraries, such as explorer.exe and shell32.dll from Wine and the ReactOS project. Mutter is involved as a composite manager. The design is stylized to resemble the classic Windows interface used from the late 1990s to the early 2010s. The system allows you to download and run exe files with Windows programs, as this is done in Windows.
