What is WSL and How to Use WSL on Windows for Linux Development

This post explains what WSL is and how to use WSL on Windows. WSL stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux. Many developers use WSL to run Linux tools on Windows without a virtual machine. WSL gives a real Linux environment that runs alongside Windows. It works with familiar Linux commands. It lets you develop software with Linux tools while keeping Windows as your main system. This guide covers WSL basics, installation, configuration, commands, and common tasks. It is practical and clear. It helps both beginners and experienced users. It explains WSL step by step with simple language. You will learn how to install WSL, how to choose a Linux distribution, and how to work with files and tools inside WSL. You will also learn tips for common problems and advanced use cases. Understanding WSL can improve your workflow. It can bridge gaps between Windows and Linux.

What is WSL

WSL is a compatibility layer. It allows Linux binary executables to run natively on Windows. This means you run Linux programs directly on Windows. You do not need a separate virtual machine. You do not need dual boot. WSL uses a real Linux kernel provided by Microsoft. It integrates tightly with Windows. This design lets Linux tools access Windows files and vice versa. WSL works with common Linux shells like Bash and Zsh. It supports package managers like apt. You can install development tools like gcc, git, python, and node. WSL runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It has two major versions. WSL 1 translates Linux calls to Windows calls. WSL 2 uses a lightweight virtual machine with a real Linux kernel. WSL 2 offers better compatibility and performance for many tasks. Knowing what WSL is helps you choose the right workflows for your projects.

Why Use WSL

You may ask why use WSL instead of Windows tools. WSL brings Linux-native tools to Windows. Many developers write software for Linux servers. They use tools that work best on Linux. WSL lets you test and build software in an environment similar to production. You can run Bash scripts, use Docker with WSL 2 backend, and manage services like nginx. WSL can access your Windows files and edit them with Linux editors. You can use Windows IDEs with WSL terminals. This improves productivity. WSL also isolates your Linux environment. You can install packages without affecting Windows. You can switch between distributions like Ubuntu and Debian. If you need a consistent environment across machines, WSL helps. It also reduces the need for external servers or cloud terminals for simple tasks. WSL is ideal for web development, data science, and system automation. It answers the need for Linux tools on a Windows base.

System Requirements for WSL

Before installing WSL you must meet system requirements. You need a compatible version of Windows. WSL is supported on Windows 10 version 2004 and later. Windows 11 has built in updates that improve WSL. You require virtualization support enabled in BIOS. Most modern PCs have this option. Check that virtualization is on. You also need sufficient disk space for Linux distributions. WSL distributions are stored in the AppData folder by default. Space varies by distribution. Ubuntu may need several gigabytes. You must have administrator rights to enable WSL features. If you are on a managed corporate PC, check with your IT team. You also need Windows PowerShell or Windows Terminal. Windows Terminal improves your command line experience. It lets you run PowerShell, Command Prompt, and WSL shells in tabs. Meeting these requirements ensures a smooth installation.

How to Install WSL

Installing WSL is straightforward with the right steps. Open PowerShell as an administrator. Use the command wsl --install. This command enables required features and installs a default Linux distribution. The default is usually Ubuntu. The process downloads files from Microsoft servers. It may take some minutes based on your internet speed. The system will prompt you to restart Windows. After restart, Linux will finalize the installation. You will be asked to create a Linux username and password. This user operates inside the Linux environment. If you want a specific distribution, you can list options with wsl --list --online. Then install your choice with wsl --install -d <DistributionName>. For example wsl --install -d Debian. You can have multiple distributions installed. You can see them with wsl --list --verbose. Installing WSL 2 is the default on recent Windows versions. If your system does not use WSL 2, you can upgrade with wsl --set-version <DistributionName> 2. This guide sets up a working Linux environment quickly.

Initial Setup and Configuration

Once WSL is installed, you can launch it from the Start menu or with wsl in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. The first time you open it, the system will request a username and password. Choose a strong password you can remember. This user is separate from your Windows account. You can update and upgrade packages with sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade. Always update your distribution after installation. You can install packages like build-essential, git, and curl with sudo apt install. You can also configure your shell preferences. For example, you can install Zsh and set it as default with chsh. You may want to customize your prompt and aliases. Use .bashrc or .zshrc files in your home directory to store settings. WSL shares the Windows file system. You can find your Windows drives under /mnt. For example, the C drive is at /mnt/c. This allows easy access to your Windows projects inside Linux.

Using Linux Commands and Tools in WSL

Using Linux commands in WSL feels like a native Linux system. You can list directories with ls. You can change directories with cd. You can edit files with editors like Vim or Nano. You install these tools with apt. Example: sudo apt install vim. You can manage software with package managers. For Ubuntu and Debian, apt is primary. Use sudo apt search <package> to find tools. Use sudo apt install <package> to install. You can also run scripts. For example, Bash scripts can automate tasks. Tools like Python, Node, and Ruby work in WSL. Install them with apt or version managers. You can clone repositories with git. Setup git with your user name and email. You can commit and push to GitHub from WSL. Many developers prefer WSL for consistency across environments. It reduces surprises when code runs on Linux servers.

File System Access and Integration

WSL integrates file systems. Linux sees Windows files under /mnt. For example, your Documents folder is at /mnt/c/Users/YourName/Documents. You can edit these files with Linux tools or Windows applications. This bidirectional access is powerful. You can keep your project files in the Windows file system and work on them in Linux. Avoid moving Linux system files to Windows manually. Keep development files in the Windows file system to avoid permission issues. You can also use Windows tools to edit Linux files. Tools like Visual Studio Code have WSL plugins. These plugins let you open a WSL folder in the editor. The editor runs on Windows but executes code in WSL. This improves performance and compatibility for many development tasks.

Networking and Services in WSL

WSL supports networking. You can run web servers, databases, and network services inside WSL. For example, install nginx with sudo apt install nginx. Start it with sudo service nginx start. You can test your server from Windows with localhost:port. WSL 2 uses a virtual network interface. It maps ports to the Windows host. This mapping lets Windows applications access Linux services. You can also access WSL services from other devices on your network with proper configuration. Always secure exposed services. Use firewalls and authentication. Databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL run in WSL. You can connect to them from Windows or remote clients. This makes WSL suitable for full stack development. You can build and test server applications locally before deployment.

Using Docker with WSL 2

Docker is a popular tool for containers. WSL 2 improves Docker support on Windows. Docker Desktop uses the WSL 2 backend. This means Docker commands run inside the Linux environment. Containers use the Linux kernel directly. This improves performance and compatibility for many images. After installing Docker Desktop, enable the WSL 2 integration. You can then pull and run containers with commands like docker run. WSL 2 removes the need for a separate Linux virtual machine. It simplifies workflows for developers building containerized applications. Docker Compose also works seamlessly. You can define services in compose files and run them with docker compose up. WSL 2 makes containers feel native on Windows.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Users may face issues with WSL. One common problem is outdated Windows versions. Ensure your Windows is up to date. Use Windows Update to install updates. Another issue is virtualization support. Check BIOS settings to enable virtualization. If you see errors updating packages, check your internet connection and sources list. For networking issues, check firewall settings. If a distribution fails to start, try unregistering and reinstalling it with wsl --unregister <DistributionName>. Be careful as unregistering removes all data. Backup important files first. For file permission problems, review ownership and access rights. Use chmod and chown inside WSL to fix permissions. If a tool is missing, install it again with apt. Check community forums and documentation for help with specific errors.

Advanced Tools and Workflows

WSL supports advanced workflows. You can use Windows IDEs like Visual Studio Code with WSL. Install the Remote – WSL extension. This lets you edit code in WSL with the Windows UI. You can also use Windows build tools that integrate with WSL environments. For example, test frameworks and linters. You can script automation tasks using cron inside WSL or Task Scheduler on Windows. For cross platform development, use tools that detect environments. Continuous integration systems often use Linux. Testing locally in WSL helps catch bugs early. WSL also supports GPU compute for machine learning with proper drivers. Windows and WSL teams have improved support for GPU in WSL.

Security Considerations

WSL runs with user level permissions inside Linux. Do not run unsafe scripts. Keep both Windows and WSL updated. Use strong passwords for Linux users. Avoid running services open to the internet without security. Use firewalls and secure configurations. WSL inherits Windows security. Windows Defender and other antivirus tools can inspect Linux files. Be aware of permission differences. Protect sensitive keys and credentials. Use SSH keys for remote access. Avoid storing secrets in plain text.

WSL brings the power of Linux to Windows. It gives a real Linux environment inside Windows. You can run Linux tools, scripts, servers, and containers. You install WSL with a few commands. You can configure distributions, manage files, and use networking. WSL improves development workflows for web, data, and system projects. It integrates file systems and tools across Windows and Linux. This guide explained what WSL is and how to use it step by step. You learned installation steps, common commands, integration tips, and security practices. Understanding WSL helps you work across operating systems without barriers. With WSL you can build, test, and run Linux workflows directly on your Windows system. WSL is a practical bridge between two worlds of development. It makes cross platform work easier and more efficient.