BridgeComposer is a Windows application. There is no version built to run on Mac, Linux, or any other OS.
However, following are three general techniques that can allow Windows applications to run on non-Windows computers.
Mac users, see also: How-to Geek: 5 Ways to Run Windows Software on a Mac.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: Unless otherwise indicated, the author has not tested these techniques. They may or may not work for you. Please send feedback to support@bridgecomposer.com so that others may benefit from your experience.
Many computers can be set up for "dual boot". When you power-up or reboot the computer, you can select which operating system to boot. If you have installed Windows as a secondary OS and select it at boot time, then you can run BridgeComposer.
The Apple utility for dual-booting is known as "Boot Camp".
This solution requires the purchase of a Windows license.
With "Parallels Desktop for Mac", you can run both Mac and Windows applications side-by-side without rebooting. This product uses hardware virtualization to run both OS at the same time.
This solution requires the purchase of a Windows license, in addition to the Parallels software.
I have feedback from three Parallels users: #1 and #3 very positive, #2 with a glitch (believed to be resolved):
[2013-10-28] I have installed Parallels on my two Mac computers, an iMac and a MacBook. On both machines I am running Windows 7 and find that any modern program designed for Windows runs satisfactorily on the computers. This includes several bridge programs such as Q-Bridge and the programs written by Bernard Magee.
As you are aware, I am also running BridgeComposer and find that it is very smooth and that there are no problems running it on the Mac. The only issue I had was in the download because it was an exe file but you resolved this problem for me. I simply renamed the file by removing the .exe so that it became an msi file.
Thank you for your impressive support and help.
[2013-11-19] I enjoy using BridgeComposer to make handouts of practice hands to give to my students.
I have an IMAC, and I run Parallels on it. BridgeComposer runs through Parallels. Every time I open BridgeComposer, it crashes Windows XP on my Parallels and gives me the Blue screen of death! Then it reboots it. Then when I open BridgeComposer the second time, it works. This has happened every single time.
[Your BridgeComposer developer believes this was caused by a bug in Windows XP versions prior to SP3. A workaround to circumvent this bug was implemented in BridgeComposer version 5.59, so the blue-screen crash no longer occurs on any version of Windows.]
[2020-05-30] Just tested your BridgeComposer program. Works beautifully on a Mac Powerbook with Windows 10 Pro (64bit) on Parallels Desktop 15 (Pro).
Even if I don’t know if I’ll use it that often, bought a license to support the development of this ingenious program and its very good and understandable documentation - thanks!
"Wine" is a free and open-source application that allows Windows apps to run on Unix-like OS (including macOS and Linux). In addition, a fully-supported adaptation of Wine for Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS, known as "CrossOver", is available for purchase.
Mac users: Wine runs only on macOS 10.8 through 10.14. For more recent macOS, you would need CrossOver. See also:
Linux users: Binary packages of Wine exist for the popular distributions.
Your BridgeComposer developer has run BridgeComposer on Linux (Ubuntu) using Wine. A few changes were made to BridgeComposer to accommodate the Wine environment. As of the last testing, there were still a few unresolved issues (roughly in order of decreasing user impact):
(Last tested in May 2022: BridgeComposer 5.97; Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS; Wine 7.0.)
Wine and CrossOver do not require the purchase of a Windows license.
Wine/CrossOver feedback:
[2017-01-10] I use BridgeComposer under Linux with the help of CodeWeavers CrossOver. It works perfectly fine.
PS: Almost all of the bridge software I use is working under wine/crossover: Wbridge5, Jack6, MicroBridge13, Q-Plus Bridge, Bridge Baron, Bridge Master... Only GotoBridge and Funbridge work only under windows.
[2018-05-28] When accessing the Help files, none of the help text documents will open. System info: Linux Mint 17.3, Wine 1.6.2
[Possible fix: Download Wine Gecko from https://wiki.winehq.org/Gecko. (Try the bottom MSI file in the 32-bit column.) Install from Terminal using 'wine msiexec -i filename'.]
[2022-05-03] I have both BridgeComposer and Wbridge5 working properly in WINE. But I can't get BC to see WBridge5 - I found an option for a GIB folder, but wbridge5 says only that it can't find it in the start menu. Using Wine 7.5 from the manjaro repositories.
[Fixed by running 'wine Wbridge5_setup.exe'.]
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