Darling vs TDF
Darling
darlinghq.orgTDF
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Darling | TDF |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Compatibility Layers | 7.2 (#18) | 7.9 (#8) |
| License | Darling is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU GPL version 3. | TDF code is distributed under GNU GPL v3, while a built version may contain components under multiple licenses, including proprietary ones. |
| Purpose | Darling is a translation layer for running macOS software on Linux. | TDF helps users install, package, and safely run Windows games on GNU/Linux. |
Plans
In their own words
TDF
TDF is a free GNU/Linux tool for installing, packaging, and running Windows games from outside Steam, including GOG installers, ISOs, and repacks. It is portable and requires no installation. Games run in isolation through bubblewrap and Linux namespaces, with file and network access blocked by default. TDF includes game-optimized and regular Wine builds, and can use system or custom Wine versions. Its graphics components cover several DirectX generations: D7VK handles DirectX 3–7, DXVK handles DirectX 8–11, and VKD3D-Proton handles DirectX 12. The manual says about 90% of games work without changes, though some need configuration. TDF requires an x86_64 CPU and a GPU with Vulkan 1.3 or newer; Linux kernel 6.14 or newer and an SSD are recommended. Instances can be archived for transfer or redistribution. The project cautions that sandboxing does not prevent every possible kernel, driver, or bubblewrap exploit, and recommends a hardened virtual machine for malware testing. The code is GNU GPL v3, though built versions may include components under other licenses.