Q: What does the current version of LINA include?
A: The heart of LINA is a runtime environment that allows a small Linux operating system to run invisibly in the background on a variety of operating systems. It also includes mechanisms that allow LINA applications (*.lpkg files) to be seamlessly installed and run on any machine where LINA is installed, in such a way that these applications take on the native look and feel of the host.  

Q: What license is LINA released under?
A: The type of license you need depends on how you plan to use LINA. If you simply wish to run code packaged for LINA, the LINA platform is available under the GNU General Public License, Version 2. If you wish to use the LINA programming libraries and the LINA compiler to create applications that run on our platform, LINA is also available under the GPL, as long as you make any code you write using our tools available to the public under the terms of the GPL. If you wish to create LINA applications without making your source code available to the public, the LINA programming libraries and compiler may be used under the terms of our commercial license. Please contact us directly for more information.

Q: How long have you been developing LINA?
A: LINA is now in its sixth year of development.

Q: Do you have any patents on LINA technologies?
A: We have several patents pending on LINA. In accordance with the GPL, Open Source users of LINA will be able to use LINA without obtaining a patent license.

Q: Can I get help using LINA?
A: Please send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or post on our forum if you have questions about LINA. We will also happily help developers of Linux apps learn to use the LINA toolkit to create LINA packages that allow your application to run anywhere.

Q: Can existing Linux code run on LINA?
A: Linux command line programs and web applications can currently be "linafied" so they can run on LINA. We are in the process of creating a LINA library for GUI applications. We plan to support the Qt and GTK+ GUI libraries in the not-too-distant future.

Q: You say code needs to be "packaged for LINA" in order to make the universal installers that run on all platforms. What does that really mean?
A: The *.lpkq packages that run on operating systems where LINA is installed are Linux binaries packaged in a zip file. This file also contains configuration files and a small executable with operating-system-specific instructions to start the application appropriately on each platform. The soon-to-be released LINA development platform includes the simple tools needed to create these packages.

Q: How well do applications running on LINA perform, as compared to running on their native platforms?
A: With LINA, applications run at near-native speed on Windows and Mac, and at native speed on Linux. In the short-term, GUI applications take a small performance hit. We will eliminate the additional slowdown when we optimize the mechanism by which we make operating system calls.

Q: How big of a download is LINA?
A: Approximately 200MB -- a couple of minutes to download with a high-speed connection.

Q: Can LINA run on other UNIX platforms such as Solaris and AIX? What about BSD?
A: LINA is capable of running on all versions of UNIX, including Solaris and BSD operating systems. We will be offering versions of LINA for those OS's in the near future, as demand dictates.

Q: Can LINA run on 64 bit processors? What about PowerPC Macs?
A: LINA is capable of running on 64 bit processors - this architecture will be supported in our full 1.00 release. We currently support the Intel version of Mac OS X only.

Q: Will LINA offer 3-D graphics support?
A: 3-D graphics support is not a short-term focus, but given the demand and the fact that LINA is an open platform we expect support will emerge.

Q: How can I contribute to the LINA project?
A: LINA is a community-driven project. Contributions can include anything from documentation, to bug fixes, to brilliant new features. Please post any ideas you might have on our forum, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Q: What languages is LINA written in?
A: For performance reasons, we've written LINA in C and C++. One of the code generation tools used to build LINA is written in Python. LINA can be built with free software tools on all major platforms including Windows.

Q: What does LINA stand for?
A: LINA is not an acronym.