Feature Request - reduce the wine Prefix to Installed Files

[orleans]

The current WinePrefix contain a lot of files which do not came from the application I have installed. I struggle a lot with:

• backup of wine prefixes and restore
• getting old application run and updated
• preset some settings
• lock apps from Internet. (Some domains not anymore belongs to the previous owner)

I request a change of the way how a prefix works. My Idea is kind of a layer system.

App directory e.g. "wine-app-0.appname"

• An app directory should contain only the data which came from an Installation
• There is a way to split app updates into a different appdirectory e.g."wine-app-1.appname"
  Higher numbers overlay deeper numbers. (not sure how to track if files are deleted)
• Winetricks should install into a separate "wine-app" directory
• Every Directory a Prefix contain is there because it was used while installing
• the user directory should only contain preinstalled data
• Same goes for Registry changes.

Run directory e.g. "wine-run.appname"

• A run directory contain only the data which are added or modified after installation. It is in any case the last layer.
• A File appearing in the run directory is used instead of the same file in the app directory
  In best case this directory contain only a User\user\ directory. But because many application do not work that simple. The run directory could contain the same file structure like app.
• Every change an app do while it runs, is done inside this directory

If needed may create a wine-cache.appname and place Wine system files there. (I would prefer an on-the-fly creation)

Additional:

• create a new directory in home for this kind of structure.
• There should be a way to migrate old Wine apps into the new structure.
  • Ask user for help on uncertain parts
  • remove all by Wine created files
  • move the user directory
  • It would be good If it could detect installed winetricks and move them also
  • cleanup registry may the most difficult part

Directory structure:

• ~/TheUser/.winehq/
• appname
  • wine-app0.appname
    - system.reg
    - user.reg
    - userdef.reg
  • wine-app1.appname
    - ...
  • wine-run.appname
    - ...
  • wine.config
    Contain Winecfg settings
  • wine.whitelist
    Contain a whitelist of access like:
    - Internet access
    - Access to linux directories
    - some other security things.

[orleans]

I would love to here feedback. even If you do not like the Idea.
Meanwhile. I got the information that a tool called Overleyfs could help archive this idea.