Its less an emulator, and more a translation layer.
Emulation is when you essentially construct a virtual representation of the target hardware, and map the virtual hardware to real hardware, and then you can run code made for the emulated, target hardware, on the real hardware.
A translation layer does not involve emulating a specific target hardware model.
WINE -> Wine Is Not (an) Emulator
Proton is basically… a massive expansion pack, for WINE.
Proton translates Windows x86-64 calls into Linux x86-64 calls.
FEX translates Linux x86-64 calls into Linux ARM calls.
The point is actually to be able to run Linux x86-64 on ARM, not the other way around.
But, as a consequence of developing a comprehensive ARM <-> x86-64 translation layer, that does mean that it will be easier to port APKs, Android libraries, or in some instances just run APKs, on x86-64.
SupraMario@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
I am so confused, the article acts like it’s allowing native windows games to run on Android via FEX. So this isn’t a “install FEX + steam = steam library now playable (hardware willing) on phone?”
ricecake@sh.itjust.works 16 hours ago
This image seems to explain it.
Image
Proton is the windows compatibility layer. Lepton is the android compatibility layer. FEX translates x86 (most desktop computers) applications to run on ARM (most mobile devices).
ozymandias117@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
FEX is to allow running x86 programs on ARM, but they’re only targeting the Steam Frame (SteamOS/Arch Linux) right now.
That VR headset uses a processor similar to phones, but they have not announced anything about moving to using these tools to allow you to play Windows games on Android
There are several moving pieces, so I understand the confusion