Microsoft has made its Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) generally available, expanding the number of Windows users who can now run Linux applications natively.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 users can now download WSL from the Microsoft Store to run Linux distributions and Linux GUI applications without the need for virtualization software.
The launch marks a milestone for the project which has been in development for years. WSL can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store provided that the user is running Windows 10 version 2004 or higher.
With WSL now on the Microsoft Store, users are expected to receive faster subsystem updates rather than having to wait for an update from the Windows operating system itself.
Windows 10 users will also be able to use Linux GUI apps for the first time with the Microsoft Store version, a feature previously reserved only for Windows 11.
“Today, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the Microsoft Store is dropping its ‘Preview’ label and becoming generally available with our latest release,” said Craig Loewen, program manager at Windows Developer Platform in a post. of blogging.
“We are also making the Store version of WSL the default version for new users running wsl –install and easily upgradeable by running wsl –update for existing users. In response to requests from the WSL community, WSL in the Store will now also be available on Windows 10 in addition to Windows 11. So Windows 10 users will also be able to enjoy all the latest WSL features, including support for systemd and Linux GUI apps!”
WSL was released by Microsoft in 2018 as a compatibility layer allowing Windows users to run Linux binaries on their systems either natively or via Windows 10 Command Prompt and PowerShell. In 2021, Microsoft made the Windows Subsystem for Linux a Windows 11 app.
More information on installing and launching Linux GUI applications can be found on the official WSLg GitHub page, while a separate Microsoft page provides instructions for installing Linux on Windows using from WSL.
Josep Prat, director of open source engineering at Aiven, said IT professional that making WSL generally available is “great news” for the developer community.
“Linux, or Unix-compatible systems for that matter, provide an excellent set of command-line tools that make life easier for developers. Developers appreciate its portability, knowing that scripts running on their system would also run on production systems, which are almost exclusively Linux-based,” he said.
“We have to recognize that Linux systems, despite having great command-line tools, weren’t always the friendliest user experience. With the general availability of WSL on Windows, developers can now take advantage of all the power of Linux command-line tools while having an operating system with “stacks included” when it comes to UX and ease of use. use. Kudos to Microsoft for investing in Linux and Windows interoperability.
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