- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
- linux@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
- linux@lemmy.ml
Today we’re very excited to announce the open-source release of the Windows Subsystem for Linux. This is the result of a multiyear effort to prepare for this, and a great closure to the first ever issue raised on the Microsoft/WSL repo:
I don’t understand this.
Does this mean Windows programs and exe files will now run natively on linux?
Edit: unclear why someone asking a question gets a 50/50 downvote to upvote response…
“OOOOHHHH!!! THIS GUY DOESN’T KNOW ALL THE THINGS I KNOW!!! BOOOOO!!!”
In my view it’s a Linux subsystem for Windows.
Why the name is the other way around, I’ll never understand.
The original WSL doesn’t use the Linux kernel at all, it’s a Windows Subsystem for compatibility with Linux. WSL2 actually visualizes a complete Linux kernel, but the name stuck.
The original WSL DOES use the Linux kernel. Which runs as a native NT process (there’s a huge difference between NT and Win32 processes). But porting a Linux kernel into the NT binary is a maintenance nightmare, it’s much easier to run the original in a slim VM.
Windows subsystem for (running) linux?
I guess the logic is that it’s a subsystem of Windows for the purpose of running Linux apps.
Agree though that it’s a confusing name. I remember thinking the same thing about Windows Subsystem for Android (the compatibility layer to run Android apps in Windows)
Yes, as long as your Linux distro is Windows.
Not quite
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about
Yeah the naming is absurdly stupid. Its a linux subsystem that is part of windows nowadays. Its so people on windows can get access to a proper terminal interface.
[Windows subsystem] for [executable environment] is the naming scheme. The default is Win32, there’s one for POSIX (practically never used), and Linux runs in another.
https://stackoverflow.com/a/41409419
Windows has a terminal interface already!
that thing is a glorified childs toy tho
Why do you say that