Windows Subsystem for Linux

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Windows Subsystem for Linux
A component of Microsoft Windows
Bashwin10.png
Bash running on Windows 10
Details
Type Compatibility layer
Included with Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Replaces Windows Services for UNIX

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables (in ELF format) natively on Windows 10. Microsoft and Canonical partnered together to enable a genuine Ubuntu Trusty Tahr image to be downloaded and extracted to the user's local machine, and for the tools and utilities contained within that image to run natively on top of the WSL.[1][2][3] WSL provides a Linux-compatible kernel interface developed by Microsoft (containing no Linux code), with user-mode binaries from Ubuntu running on top of it.[4]

This subsystem cannot run all Linux software such those with graphical user interfaces or those in need of Linux kernel services.[5] It is, however, possible to mitigate this by running graphical X Windows applications with an external X server, such as Xming or Cygwin/X.[6]

The subsystem originated in the ill-fated Project Astoria, which enabled Android applications to run on Windows 10 Mobile.[5] It was made in Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14316.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Harsh, Mike (30 March 2016). "Run Bash on Ubuntu on Windows". Building Apps for Windows. Microsoft. 
  2. ^ Finley, Klint (30 March 2016). "Why Microsoft Making Linux Apps Run on Windows Isn’t Crazy". Wired. Condé Nast. 
  3. ^ Kirkland, Dustin (30 March 2016). "Ubuntu on Windows – The Ubuntu Userspace for Windows Developers". Ubuntu Insights. Canonical. 
  4. ^ Hammons, Jack (9 April 2016). "Bash on Ubuntu on Windows". MSDN. Microsoft. 
  5. ^ a b Bright, Peter (6 April 2016). "Why Microsoft needed to make Windows run Linux software". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. 
  6. ^ Aleksandersen, Daniel (7 April 2016). "Running Linux desktop apps on the Windows Subsystem for Linux". Slight Future. 
  7. ^ Aul, Gabe (6 April 2016). "Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14316". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. 

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