Developers and IT people often need Linux, yet they work on Windows. Until recently that meant dual boot or a separate virtual machine. Today WSL is enough.

What WSL is

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is a Windows feature that lets you run a full Linux right inside Windows, with no dual boot and no separate virtual machine. Linux runs in a window next to your ordinary programs.

How it works

The second generation (WSL2) runs on a lightweight virtual kernel, so you get a real Linux kernel and most of the tools you know from Linux. Windows and Linux share files, so you can reach them from both sides.

Who it is for

Mainly for developers, administrators and anyone who needs Linux commands and tools but does not want to leave Windows. You can install a distribution such as Ubuntu (we cover which one to choose in the article on Linux distributions) and use it like an ordinary application.

How to get started

Just open PowerShell as administrator and run the command wsl --install. Windows downloads the necessary components and a default distribution, and after a restart you have Linux ready to use.

WSL versus a virtual machine

Compared with classic virtualisation, WSL is lighter and better connected to Windows. It is not a full replacement for a complete virtual machine with a graphical environment, but for development and command-line work it is ideal and uses far fewer resources.

Summary

WSL combines the practical side of both worlds: the comfort of Windows and the power of Linux, with none of the compromise and delay of dual boot.

This article is part of our Software and system overview.