For wine issue, see https://github.com/red/red/issues/1618 . Short Summary: You need the Consolas font installed.

Compilation takes a long time currently. It is normal. Fast Compilation Times are an objective for 0.6.5 release.

For FFI, see http://static.red-lang.org/red-system-specs.html#section-15....

As for `Is there way to run a GUI script without the shell popping up?` , IDK. So better ask it at the gitter chat room.