Today we’re very excited to announce the open-source release of the Windows Subsystem for Linux. This is the result of a multiyear effort to prepare for this, and a great closure to the first ever issue raised on the Microsoft/WSL repo:
This is for WSL2, not for WSL1. WSL2 is just a VM, not a big deal it it’s open-sourced. WSL1 is superior to WSL2 in every way. BTW, WSL2 is not a continuation of WSL1, they are being developed in parallel. I still try to use WSL1 whenever possible. For Linux specific features, like systemd dependancy and mounting file systems, I’d use full-featured VM instead of WSL2.
I thought WSL2 had a few specific advantages over WSL1, something about disk writes and/or Docker? But yeah, WSL1 was such a cool concept. My understanding is they implemented all the syscalls and API in it so it’s basically native.
I tried to use them, as I do most tools like that. On Windows I have always stuck with the MSYS environment that Git for Windows gives you. It’s easy enough to work with and has most everything I care about. Plus it’s easy to set up. With wsl it’s more like a separate thing, it wasn’t as easy to run in place. A lot of times I still used batch or powershell scripts so it wasn’t totally bash. Like Docker is easier to use from not bash in Windows because the syntax is so wonky.
But now I don’t use Windows at all.
I’ve recently started using windows again for work, after not touching it for like 15 years, msys2 makes it tolerable.
I’m a devops engineer, and my company won’t allow me to use WSL. Go figure.
Uh… But that’s what it’s for? Like it’s it’s primary purpose…? They created it for devops…? What are they smoking?
Msys2 was not created for devops, I just happen to be a devops engineer who uses it. Their websites describes it as:
MSYS2 is a collection of tools and libraries providing you with an easy-to-use environment for building, installing and running native Windows software.
Because it makes software building, packaging and distributing as simple aand standardised as it is on Linux, it means they effectively have a very good CLI on their hands. On my work laptop, I now use WezTerm with fish shell and helix editor for my workflow, and live in the terminal. Would this be possible to do without msys2 or wsl? Yes, but it would be a huge pain.
It’s like telling a car mechanic to not use duct tape imo
MSYS2 is odd, I could never figure out how to set it up a sort from the one with Git. When I was more of a power user I used Cygwin. Babun is cool but unmaintained last I remember, and is just Cygwin with some enhancements.
As much shit as MS gets (and rightfully so) around 2019 they began turning their reputation around for dev stuff. They’ve lost all that good will though.
I could never figure out how to set it up a sort from the one with Git.
That’s because the one provided with git is a nerfed version of msys2. If you install msys2 as a standalone thing from their website, you get everything you need for a functional CLI on windows. Most importantly, you get a real package manager and decently populated repositories.
sudo apt-get assorted -lettuce -cheese -onion
How was it not open source before? Isn’t linux gpl?
You are confusing the software and Linux kernel that make up WSL2 because the former was proprietary until now and the latter has always been available on GitHub.
Kernel used in WSL2
Fair play to Microsoft here. Hopefully we see some pull requests from non-ms employees and a better wsl experience for us all
1/10 no tutorial on how to jump over an office chair.
can some one ELI5… is this a way for me to run windows stuff using linux? OR is this for linux stuff to run in windows?
I really want an easier way to run windows stuff in linux, my hatred grows with every notification, update, attempt to advertise to me, and interference in my workspace. but trialing mint is great but the ultimate test is failing with a few programs not really playing nice with linux.
What programs you struggling with on Linux?
I’d say any of the multitude of programs that don’t work on linux.
Yeah cool but what? Have they been reported to wine or whoever would be able to fix it?
I’ve moved my whole operating environment to Linux and have had to use Windows for one single application in the last four to five years. It was a firmware update tool for non-computer related equipment.
This is for running Linux programs on Windows. ELI5: some programs are made to run on windows, and some programs are made to run on Linux. Microsoft made a thing for windows that makes it able to run programs that were supposed to run on Linux. That thing is called Windows Subsystem for Linux.
What windows programs do you have that are not working well on Linux? There are various tools to run windows programs on Linux, and some work better than others for specific programs. I have had good luck with bottles recently, you might try that if you have not already. Other options I’ve used with great success in the past: ploy on Linux, Lutris, and wine directly. They all us wine at some level, but have tried and tested configuration for various programs to run well, and help with the installation and management of different wine versions. Depending on your windows programs, one option might be to run windows in a VM on Linux, to run those few programs. Another benefit of this way is that your Linux system is somewhat isolated from your windows programs. This can help with privacy and security.
It’s to run Linux stuff on Windows.
It should be called ENIW.
I know there’s a lot of hate for Microsoft on Lemmy, but WSL is one of the best parts of Windows. It’s really powerful and well integrated to Windows. Since I still can’t leave for pure Linux install, I’m glad for WSL.
WSL is EEE
Microsoft hate is justified.
The only Windows PC I use is my work computer.
GPO blocked WSL.
I can’t even escape to a command line with the right flavour of slashes between directories. For eight hours a day, all hope is lost.
Only solution is to write your own
WSL made windows tolerable in the time I had to use a windows machine for work.
macOS is still the better choice for corp approved work, integrates decently with IT systems and is a “real” unix system underneath.
Linux on a corporate desktop is mostly about how well you know the IT guys and do they trust you. And of course the software stack.
IT just said no for WSL “ask your manager”
My manager barely knows how to read his email
and doesn’t understand why I want 3rd screen
Just buy a single 45" curved one then.
He doesn’t like that my cubicle computer would not be all the others
Linux on a corporate desktop is mostly about how well you know the IT guys and do they trust you. And of course the software stack.
I would say it depends more on the commitment of the IT admins to support and manage a fleet of Linux workstations. There are Linux “Active Directory” servers, configuration provisioning tools, ways to centrally and automatically rollout updates, etc. It really depends on if the IT guys invest the same amount of effort to support them or not.
2000 people, 3k+ devices and one dude wants a Linux laptop.
Not happening 😀
But it did work in a smaller company of around 30 people, mostly because the IT guy was a Linux user too
Funny that the Linux is best part of Windows lmao
Doubly ironic since Win32 is the only stable ABI on Linux.
fuck microsoft and windows so hard. had to reinstall that shitshow on my mothers computer because a driver update fucked the whole networkstack… they throw error codes and what not but give no help whatsoever. the conclusion of everyone for every problem is to reinstall windows… shitshow of an os, keep your dirty hands of linux!! can’t wait to nuke it and install linux there and have no windows machine left
If you’re having to reinstall windows regularly you’re not very good at being the tech guy. I say this as someone who manages a support team for 50+ Windows machines, and who has been the tech guy for all my friends and family for decades. I can count the number of times I had to reinstall windows on one hand, with a few fingers to spare.
If you’re having to reinstall windows regularly
says who? what’s the fix for code 56? what can i do in the registry do solve the botched update? which files to check and/or remove? logfiles that give me a clue? come on tech guy enlighten us
Strange cause like I said, I’ve been doing this for literal decades and can count the number of times I’ve had to reinstall windows on one hand, with a few fingers to spare. 50+ windows machines at any given time at work for 15+ years. Every family members computers for 25+ years.
Never had “code 56”, but doesn’t seem like a hard fix: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/solvedunable-to-update-network-drivers-error-code/e34e928d-53a1-4bfa-b2c9-7157352b728d
One hand.
With fingers to spare.
Reading comprehension my friend… but what do i know, you are so great and superb
I reinstalled Windows and had to shit my pants because I was so disgusted in myself. Fuck windows
Is this something to do with the three Es?
The 90s called, they want their joke back.
Thanks for nothing Microsoft
Making WSL open source could actually lead to some useful contributions and better transparency overall ; and good for Linux tools?
I don’t understand this.
Does this mean Windows programs and exe files will now run natively on linux?
In my view it’s a Linux subsystem for Windows.
Why the name is the other way around, I’ll never understand.
The original WSL doesn’t use the Linux kernel at all, it’s a Windows Subsystem for compatibility with Linux. WSL2 actually visualizes a complete Linux kernel, but the name stuck.
It’s a windows subsystem, and it runs linux.
Windows subsystem for (running) linux?
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Yeah the naming is absurdly stupid. Its a linux subsystem that is part of windows nowadays. Its so people on windows can get access to a proper terminal interface.
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that thing is a glorified childs toy tho
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[Windows subsystem] for [executable environment] is the naming scheme. The default is Win32, there’s one for POSIX (practically never used), and Linux runs in another.
Yes, as long as your Linux distro is Windows.
I am legit excited to install WINE Subsystem for Linux
Or how about KDE on ReactOS on WSL?
The possibilities are endless
Also try out winegui.
ReactOS has SUCH potential. I really wanna see it thrive.
Unfortunately building it was a disaster a few years ago, I should give it another go.
Why were you trying to build it? You can find both ““stable”” release and nightly builds on ReactOS website.
ReactOS 0.4.16 was just released, but I do recommend just getting a nightly build, unless it doesn’t work and you have enough patience to try out the regular version as well.
To try and contribute! :P gotta start somewhere
but… you need to run it on microsoft, which isn’t open source…
Only right now. I’m sure someone will have it running on Wine or Proton by next week. Steamdeck subsystem for proton for Windows subsystem for linux
brb running vim on windows subsystem for linux on proton on wine on linux.
Just to confuse any computer virus.
Garbage on top of garbage. The true nature of macroshafts desperate grasp to get control of linux.
Its a godsend when you have to use Windows for whatever reason and you can have a functional OS to do things with.
