Shell Functions For Quick Access
When WINE installs menu items for an app, they automatically point to the right wineprefix, which is great. But if you're a commandline user, what you really want is a convenient way to access those wineprefixes from the commandline.
Here's one way—add these three shell functions to your ~/.bashrc:
prefix() { export WINEPREFIX="$HOME/.local/share/wineprefixes/$1" }
goc() { cd $WINEPREFIX/drive_c }
lsp() { ls $* $HOME/.local/share/wineprefixes }
Those let you select or go to any wineprefix, or list them all.
You can export a wineprefix in ~/.local/share/wineprefixes with prefix and then go to it with goc:
prefix vn32
goc
You might also find this one handy; it relies on the fact that most winetricks verbs that install apps also install batch files to start those apps:
run() { prefix $1 goc wine cmd /c run-$1.bat }
Although there's probably a better way to do that.
Shell Scripting
Adding New Verbs shows you, step by step, how to create your first Winetricks verb.
You can get a lot done without knowing much of the syntax of the Unix shell, but at some point, you'll need to start learning it. Here are a few resources that might help you get started.
Tutorials
- "An Introduction to the Unix Shell", S. R. Bourne, 1978 (PDF, HTML) - is a simple introduction to the fundamentals. The language was simpler then, but it's still worth reading.
- "Portable Shell Programming" by Bruce Blinn. Excellent, slim book. Worth buying used, you should be able to get it for $10
Reference