WindowsFX: A Windows 10 Clone Built on Linux

For some users, turning Linux into Windows is heresy. But for others, it's the ideal path toward a friendlier transition, trying to take advantage of the muscle memory we've developed over the years. That brings us to WindowsFX, a Brazilian project that takes an Ubuntu base combined with Cinnamon Desktop and turns it into a convincing clone of Windows 10, which also includes support for the Raspberry Pi.

The number of projects seeking to "reduce the distance" between Linux and Windows has increased considerably, and that forces us to wonder if there's a fundamental problem with the available environments. Linux has always stood out for its dynamics, adaptability, and flexibility, but at the same time there's a feeling that it's too fragmented, and this search for familiarity through the reproduction of Windows on Linux emerges as a possible answer.

Of course, that situation deserves a broader debate. In the meantime, the best we can do is continue our exploration of Linux distros that clone or imitate Windows. This time we've come across WindowsFX, a Brazilian project that relies on Ubuntu 20.04 and Cinnamon Desktop to reproduce the look of Windows 10 at the desktop, menu, and file explorer level.

WindowsFX: The 'Essence' of Windows 10, Powered by Ubuntu

The trained eye won't take long to spot the differences, but at first glance, I think the transformation is very convincing. The developers even took the trouble to install several official icons (like Office in LibreOffice), though that could change in the future if legal issues arise (we know how Redmond is about these things).

The software selection is fairly standard, and I'd dare say redundant. Kodi and VLC Player dominate the multimedia section, GIMP and Inkscape are the graphics options, and we also find both Firefox and Chrome for browsing. Other programs worth mentioning are Steam, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Transmission for BitTorrent downloads. Now, it would be a mistake on my part to forget the applets and desklets section on the desktop and taskbar. They consume a few resources, but they could end up being quite useful.

WindowsFX has an x86 64-bit edition, and another 32-bit build compatible with Raspberry Pi in its 2, 3, and 4 editions. The creators of this distro recommend using version 4 with 2 GB of RAM for a better experience, and a dose of overclocking wouldn't hurt either. The official WindowsFX page is in maintenance mode for now, but images are downloaded via SourceForge or BitTorrent.

Official site and downloads: Click here