🚂 ChooChoo

Proton/WINE Trainer & DLL Loader
A loader for SteamOS/Linux/macOS that handles launches of games with trainers/mods (FLiNG, WeMod, etc.), patches, and up to 5 extra executables or DLLs, bypassing the issues of launching mods/patches in WINE/Proton enviroments.

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Download & Links

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Why is this Needed for Proton/WINE?

Running game trainers, patches, and DLL injectors in Proton or WINE can be problematic due to compatibility issues, anti-cheat false positives, and differences in Windows API implementations. Many game trainers and mods rely on system calls that work natively on Windows but fail under Proton/WINE.

ChooChoo solves these issues by:

✅ Ensuring Proper Trainer Execution – Many trainers rely on system-level hooks and memory modifications that fail in WINE. ChooChoo makes sure they load properly.

✅ DLL Injection Support – Some patches, mods, or debuggers need to inject DLLs into the game process, which can fail in WINE without proper handling.

✅ Multiple Executable Launching – Games requiring launchers, mod frameworks, or patches alongside the main executable can be difficult to set up in Proton.

✅ Proton/WINE UI Compatibility Fixes – Prevents common graphical/UI bugs that occur when running trainers in a non-native Windows environment.

✅ Seamless Steam Deck Integration – Works effortlessly with Steam’s Proton compatibility layer, making it easy to add trainers and patches on the go.

Whether you are playing on Linux, macOS (via Whisky), or Steam Deck, ChooChoo makes sure that your trainers, DLLs, and patches just...work.

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Features At a Glance

Feature	Description
Dual Launch	Automatically start both game and trainer (or any EXE) together.
Additional EXEs/DLLs	Inject up to 5 extra binaries (patches, scripts, additional trainers).
Profiles	Save, load, and auto-launch configurations from custom profile files.
Auto Launcher	Optional startup mode that launches your last-used profile immediately (with a configurable delay).
Recent Files (MRU)	Quickly reselect your most recently used game or trainer executables.
Proton & WINE Compatible	Streamlined UI adjustments for smooth operation on Steam Deck, Wine, or Proton.

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Quick Start (Steam Deck)

1. Switch to Desktop Mode

   • Tap the Steam Deck’s Power button → Switch to Desktop.

2. Add ChooChoo to Steam

   • Open Steam on your Deck (in Desktop Mode).
   • Go to Games → Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library → Select ChooChooApp.exe or ChooChooApp-DotNetBuiltIn.exe.

3. Enable Proton

   • In your Steam Library, right-click on ChooChoo → Properties → Compatibility.
   • Check Force the use… and pick a Proton version (Proton 9+ recommended).

4. Configure & Launch

   • Click Play to open ChooChoo.
   • Choose your Game Path, Trainer Path, and any extra DLLs/EXEs.
   • (Optional) Save a Profile and enable Auto Launcher.
   • Finally, hit Launch.

🚀 Quick Tip for Steam Deck Users! 🎮

If you're using WINE/Proton and can't find your Steam games, create a symlink to make them easily accessible:

ln -s ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common ~/STEAMGAMES

WeMod/Trainer Not Launching (Fix) (Proton/WINE)

If trainers like WeMod aren’t working, remove Wine-Mono and install .NET instead using Protontricks or Heroic Launcher.

Using Protontricks

1. Install Protontricks (if not installed)
   flatpak install com.github.Matoking.protontricks

2. Open Protontricks & Select Your Game
   protontricks --gui or launch it from the menu in Desktop mode.

   • Select your game/trainer bottle
   • Choose Run Wine Control Panel

3. Uninstall Wine-Mono

   • In Control Panel, go to Add/Remove Programs
   • Find Wine Mono Windows Support
   • Click Uninstall and follow the prompts

4. Install .NET Framework (if needed)

   • Set your Bottle's Windows Version to Windows 7 using the Wine Control Panel.
   • Download .NET from Microsoft’s official site (You'll want .NET 4.7.1 if you're using WeMod)
   • Inside Protontricks, select Run Wine File Manager or Run EXE
   • Run the .NET installer inside the Wine bottle
   • Set your Bottle's Windows Version back to Windows 10 using the Wine Control Panel.

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Using Heroic Launcher

1. Open Heroic Launcher

2. Go to Your Game → Config/Settings

3. Click Winetricks → Open WineTricks GUI

4. Choose Select the Default Prefix

5. Click on Run Uninstaller

6. Remove Wine Mono Windows Support

7. Press OK to return to the WineTricks GUI

8. Select Run an arbitrary executable (.exe/.msi/msu) and use this to install .NET from the official installer.

   (You'll want .NET 4.7.1 for WeMod)

Now trainers like WeMod should work properly on Steam Deck.

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Quick Start (macOS with Whisky)

1. Install Whisky

   • Get the latest version of Whisky for macOS.

2. Create a Bottle & Add ChooChoo

   • In Whisky, create a new bottle.
   • Use "Run Executable" and pick ChooChooApp.exe or ChooChooApp-DotNetBuiltIn.exe to place it in the bottle.

3. Configure & Run

   • In the bottle’s settings, enable DXVK (and other needed compatibility tweaks).
   • Press Run to start ChooChoo.
   • Inside ChooChoo, set Game Path, Trainer Path, and extras.
   • Launch to start your game + trainer simultaneously.

If trainers like WeMod are not working properly in CrossOver/Whisky, removing Wine-Mono and installing the official .NET Framework can help.

WeMod/Trainer Not Launching (Fix) (macOS)

Open Whisky

• Launch Whisky on macOS.

Go to Bottle Configuration

• Open your game/trainer's bottle in Whisky and hit Bottle Configuration.

Open Control Panel

• Inside the bottle, open Control Panel.

Uninstall Wine-Mono

• In Control Panel, go to Applications or Add/Remove Programs.
• Set your Bottle's Windows Version to Windows 7 using the Wine Control Panel.
• Find Wine Mono Windows Support.
• Click Uninstall and follow the prompts.

Install .NET Framework (Manually)

Since some trainers require .NET, download and install it manually:

1. Download the .NET Framework from Microsoft’s official site.
2. Set your Bottle's Windows Version to Windows 7 using the Wine Control Panel.
3. Inside Whisky, run the .NET installer inside the bottle.
4. Follow the installation steps as you would on Windows.
5. Set your Bottle's Windows Version back to Windows 10 using the Wine Control Panel.

(WeMod will want .NET 4.7.1)

After this, WeMod and other trainers should now work correctly in WINE/Proton on macOS

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Customization & Artwork

• Renaming in Steam:

  • Right-click ChooChoo in your Library → Properties → Rename (e.g., "ChooChoo Trainer").

• Decky Loader & SteamGridDB (Optional):

  • Install Decky Loader on Steam Deck.
  • Add SteamGridDB plugin → Use it to replace ChooChoo’s artwork with custom images or icons.

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🔥 New & Improved Features!

🚀 DLL Injection Overhaul

Checks 32-bit/64-bit compatibility before injecting. Refuses mismatched DLLs (skips injection, logs an error). Real-time UI updates: each validated DLL is marked and displayed. Only logs each injection attempt once, preventing spam in the status box.

🕹️ Refined XInput Handling

Scoped controller input: no more unintentional global actions when certain popups or combos are focused. Properly interprets dpad vs. thumbstick movements, ignoring slight joystick drifts. Enhanced button mappings for easy menu navigation (e.g., A = Enter, B = Cancel, etc.).

📜 Command-Line Enhancements

-p "ProfileName": Loads a saved profile (paths, DLLs, etc.) on startup. -autolaunch: Starts the configured game automatically after a short delay. -dllinject [Dll1.dll] [Dll2.dll] ...: Injects specified DLLs (up to five), either absolute or relative paths. Logs a clear message if any specified DLL doesn't exist or if the limit of five is exceeded.

🖥️ UI & Stability Improvements

Windows Forms interface: simpler, more intuitive, drastically easier to maintain. Controlled list refresh: the DLL list only updates on demand (or after an injection event), preserving scroll position and preventing flicker. Robust error handling: handles missing files, incorrect bitness, or invalid profiles gracefully.

🛠️ Fixes & Optimizations

Launch button overlapping is resolved. DLL validation logs appear only once (preventing log spam). Auto-launch system improved: can be toggled in settings or triggered from command line. Profiles are automatically saved to profiles\last.ini on each launch, so your last-used config is always restored.