Include Database That Recommends Alternatives to Windows Applications Based on a Downloaded Installer File

[theuser18]

Problem

New users may be confused the AppCenter ecosystem. They might try to download popular Windows programs directly from a website and be confused when the .exe or .msi does not launch.

Proposal

Provide a database that explains why Windows executables don't work, similar to Zorin OS implementation.

"Zorin OS now comes with a built-in database that detects popular Windows installer files, so that the system can guide you through the installation process. If the system recognizes the .exe or .msi file you double-clicked on, it will automatically suggest you to install the app or game (or its closest alternative) from the recommended source, whether it’s a native package in the Software store or a Linux-optimized installer for a PC game in Lutris or Steam. It also provides you with a simple and informed option to install Windows App Support if you wish to run the Windows version of the app or game."

This could be a helpful feature for new users to the Linux ecosystem.

Prior Art (Optional)

No response

[danirabbit]

Hm, I think this is probably outside the scope of Files since this is more about an app that would be the default handler for this type of file.

I don't think we want to recommend folks use something like Wine or recommend 3rd party stores. I also don't think it would be fair to developers to pick apps as alternatives.

It could be interesting to redirect for cross-platform apps, but the only apps in AppCenter are open source and built against the elementary runtime. So there's nothing to recommend for apps like Slack for example.

I'm not sure there's anything that could really be done here within the constraints of not recommending third party sources or wine

[danirabbit]

Moving this to Portals since the OpenURI portal is the interface that's responsible for showing a dialog when there's no default app assigned to a content type.

We could theoretically do some special handling of executable content types there maybe?