Are most programs cross compatible?
Hi Bobby, and welcome! Unfortunately no, most Windows programs will not run in Linux, not when you imagine how much software there is out there. Some
companies make Linux versions, so that helps... like Chrome as already mentioned, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird email. OpenOffice and LibreOffice both have had Windows versions for a long time, though you may not have known it or used them before. LibreOffice is the more popular these days and comes included with most of the Linux distros.
Some Windows programs can be installed and run in Linux using a special program called Wine, but it is usually better, if possible, to find an alternative Linux program to do the same task. There are tens of thousands of Linux programs so there is often something that will suit your needs.
Please keep in mind that Linux is not Windows. Though they may look and operate similarly, they are really very different "under the hood." And consider this: since Linux cannot natively run Windows programs, this is a big reason why Linux does not get infected with viruses. This, and other reasons, help to make Linux safer and more secure than Windows.
We will all be happy to help you make the transition to Linux. It can be a lot of fun, but there is usually a bit of work and learning new things involved. Good luck!
Cheers
