Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) has made a lot of waves since it was announced at //Build 2016 in April 2016. But as with any new technology, many people have questions including:
The official WSL documentation is regularly updated with improved instructions, and documentation for new features as we continue to improve WSL. Be sure to revisit regularly to keep up to date!
To help answer some of these questions we’ve collected together most of the learning resources – docs, blog posts, and videos, below, where you can learn all about this exciting new Windows 10 feature:
This is our original intro video which was published simultaneously with the original launch of WSL at Build 2016:
Note that most of the caution urged in the video regarding WSL’s initial “gaps” and “missing features” have been remedied in the Insider builds leading up to, and including, Windows 10 Creators Update.
Here’s a video summarizing what’s new in WSL and Console in Windows 10 Anniversary Update:
After Windows 10 Anniversary Update was launched, we immediately began work on features that will ultimately show-up in Windows 10 Creator Update (due spring 2017). These new WSL and Console features were introduced in the Windows Insider builds rolling out of our build labs during the latter half of 2016, which I summarize in this post:
In this video, Craig Loewen outlines what’s new in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update for Windows Console and WSL:
You can also read about new WSL features in Fall Creators Update.
Want to learn more about WSL while you’re away from your screen? Listen to the following podcast interviews:
Shortly after unveiling Bash/WSL for the first time, Rich was interviewed by Richard Campbell & Carl Franklin, of .NET Rocks fame for episode #1284 titled “Making Windows Command Line Cool Again”:
After the Windows 10 Creators Update release, Rich was interviewed by Mary Jo Foley, Paul Thurrott & Leo Laporte on episode 514 of the popular “Windows Weekly” video/audio cast show, for a session titled “Bash on Windows” (of course :D)
We invited some of the key WSL architects and developers to explain the key internal workings of WSL. The result is a series of WSL internals-focused blog posts and Channel9 videos recorded by the inimitable Seth Juarez for your viewing enjoyment!
Note: This list of posts and videos will be updated as we publish new content!
The resources below share examples of what you can do with WSL. We hope to grow this list over time, so please check-back often to see some of the cool things people do with WSL!
During Windows DevDays on Feb 8th 2017, Stacey and Rick demonstrated using Visual C++ for Linux to compile and debug an application on WSL! Many thanks to Marc & the team for their help building this demo!