WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

What is WSL

WSL is a modern tool that allows developers to access the power of both Windows and Linux simultaneously on a Windows Machine. WSL lets developers install Linux Distributions and use Linux applications, utilities, and command-line tools.

WSL Installation

Since our Windows machine uses local home directories, WSL works best when you will be at the same workstation in our Windows lab. WSL needs to be started in a PowerShell terminal where you can download the default Ubuntu distribution with

wsl --install

If you want to customize your distribution to fit our Linux machines, you can use

wsl --install debian

or to browse the options available, you can try

wsl --list --online

After installing your intended Linux distribution, you will need to open it using the Start menu. You will then be prompted to create a username and password. In this Linux environment, you will be granted administrative privileges so you can configure it to fit your needs.

For any additional questions about WSL after installation, make sure to consult the documentation for the Windows Subsystem for Linux