[HardlyYakka]

Something like:

WINE is a translator that allows Windows programs (those that have an .exe extension) to talk to other Operating Systems.

or perhaps:

Many people need wine if you want them to work. A windows program on Linux is no exception.

[justin66]

> WINE is a translator that allows Windows programs (those that have an .exe extension) to talk to other Operating Systems.

I'm sure the aforementioned freshmen would like a no-bullshit explanation for why "emulator" hurts the WINE people's feelings but "translator" does not. It's always been a mystery to me.

[HardlyYakka]

> no-bullshit explanation

Hah! Not really possible, especially considering that the project used to be called windows emulator:

  http://www.faqs.org/faqs/windows-emulation/wine-faq/

I'd say they've changed the meaning so they can reinforce that it's not just another virtual machine ( and that it's faster than one).

Which is true, it doesn't emulate another hardware architecture's calls, just the kernel and OS magic needed.

In that regard, think of say a console game or arcade game emulator on a computer- that will have to emulate the whole architecture of said game system as well as the game.

Contrast that to a game program for the the x86 architecture, but not for windows- you could run it natively on windows providing you change everything the game asks for that's part of the Gamesystem380 system into something windows understands, and vice versa.