[Techtalk] Virtual Desktops with automation program

[Gwen Morse]

I have an automation program that currently runs inside a virtual
machine. It controls a mouse pointer and performs repetitive
maintenance tasks. The guest client is Windows 7.

I use the regular linux desktop for recreational purposes at the same
time the automation program is running.

However the computer is a bit old and both the Win7 virtual machine
and the other usage put a strain on its memory.

It occurs to me that since I already know the automation program will
run under wine (and I have wine installed) that I *could* run it under
linux which would free up the virtual machine's piggish use of system
resources. However, it has to have control of a mouse pointer to work,
and my mouse pointer is usually committed to other activities.

Would it be possible to use fedora's built in virtual desktops to
accomplish the same set of tasks? As an example, on desktop 1 I would
open Firefox and whatever other programs I want to use. On desktop 2 I
would open the automation program and set it to run.

If I toggle back to desktop 1, does desktop 2 still have system
resources for use? Can it have its own mouse pointer to do "stuff"? Or
does desktop 2 effectively "freeze" until I toggle back to it?

Any clarification on this would be appreciated.

Gwen