Hands-on test of Windows Subsystem for Linux

Undercover

The new Linux subsystem [1] has been around since the Windows 10 Creators Update; according to Microsoft, it can get by without a resource-consuming virtual machine (VM) and configuration. It is also said to offer a more native Linux feeling than the previous Cygwin [2] Linux environment. Linux users have used Cygwin on Windows for years, for example, to automate processes with shell scripts (e.g., mass Git checkouts), but it does mean recompiling Linux programs for Windows.

A look at the subsystem is worthwhile because of the surprisingly lightweight, process-based virtualization concept that just might catch on. In this article, I explain the limitations of the subsystem compared with native Linux and Cygwin, and I offer a number of customization tips that help make the subsystem fit for everyday use.

Installation

Users of Windows 10 Professional, at least, will be able to pick up the Linux subsystem easily. The subsystem runs natively on Windows and does not require an additional VM. If you do not want to create a Microsoft account during the install, you can install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS directly by using Windows PowerShell. As an administrator, the command

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

prepares Windows for installing the subsystem (Figure 1, top). Next, select Settings | Update & Security | For developers to enable Developer mode (Figure 2). Once the installation is complete, type bash to display the prompt (Figure 1, bottom). Like all applications under Windows, the bash shell shown in

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