Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

How to Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

1. Check Your Operating System Version:

   • Open the Start menu and search for "System Information."
   • Check the OS name and version. Ensure you are running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

2. Choose a Linux Distribution:

   • For beginners, Ubuntu or Linux Mint Cinnamon is recommended.
   • For intermediate users, Debian 12 Bookworm is suggested.

3. Activate Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL):

   • Open the Start menu and search for "Turn Windows features on or off."
   • Activate "Virtual Machine Platform" and "Windows Subsystem for Linux."
   • Click "OK" and save your work. Restart your computer.

4. Install WSL:

   • Open Command Prompt (CMD) by searching for it in the Start menu.
   • Type wsl --install and press Enter.
   • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

5. Update WSL:

   • Use the command wsl --update to ensure you have the latest version.
   • Confirm the update by entering 'yes.'

6. Install a Linux Distribution:

   • Check available distributions online by running wsl --list --online.
   • Choose a distribution (e.g., Ubuntu) and install it using wsl --install -d <distribution_name>.

7. Explore the Linux Environment:

   • Access the Linux environment by opening the Linux folder.
   • Navigate through directories using commands like cd <directory> and list files with ls.

8. Access Linux through WSL App:

   • Search for "WSL" in the Start menu to open the WSL app, providing access to the Linux terminal.

9. Use Windows Terminal:

   • Search for "Terminal" in the Start menu to open the Windows Terminal app.
   • Switch between different terminals, including Ubuntu, within the same window.

10. Verify Ubuntu Version:

    • In the Ubuntu terminal, run lsb_release -a to confirm the Ubuntu version.

11. Update Ubuntu:

    • Run sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade to update Ubuntu packages.

12. Access WSL through PowerShell:

    • Open PowerShell and run wsl to access WSL through the command line.

13. Understand WSL 1 vs. WSL 2:

    • WSL 1 uses a translation layer for compatibility, while WSL 2 runs a full Linux kernel for better performance.
    • Check and switch to WSL 2 if needed by following Microsoft's guide.

14. Completion:

    • Congratulations! You have successfully installed and set up Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on your Windows machine.

Next Steps:

• In the following videos, learn about using Git, GitHub, and VS Code within your WSL environment for a seamless coding experience.