You Don't Need Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): Here's Why!

The short answer is no. But if you want to know why, read on to discover why you don't need WSL.

What are the advantages of WSL?

WSL has some positive points to use.

1. It's easy to get started . All you need is a Windows 10/11 machine, an Internet connection, and some time.
2. Very easy to use . Once installed, it works like any other Linux distribution - you can run commands or scripts as if they were installed natively on your machine. You can also install new applications via the command line using apt-get or yum commands just like any other Linux distribution
3. It's easy to install : If installing WSL isn't simple enough, Microsoft has made the installation easier by providing an installer that guides users through every step needed to install WSL on a machine calculator - and even includes troubleshooting tips if problems occur during installation.

Disadvantages of WSL

WSL is a good tool, but it's not for everyone. Here are some disadvantages of this tool:

1. Slower performance compared to virtual machines or running Linux natively on hardware. WSL uses software emulators to run Linux programs, which can be slow compared to running them directly on the computer hardware.
2. Not compatible with all Linux programs . While many popular applications like Firefox and GIMP run fine in WSL, some don't work at all (for example, Ubuntu-based distributions like Mint or Lubuntu).
3. WSL itself doesn't really integrate with Windows . You will always have separate instances of Bash and Windows Explorer open when using this feature; there is no seamless integration into a cohesive operating system environment.
4. While WSL can be configured to read/write to the Windows file system (and vice versa), that's all it can do. Your Linux programs won't have access to Windows, and your Windows programs won't have access to Linux . For example, suppose that after installing WSL, you try to run apt-get in the Windows command line. It won't work. You will need to use apt-get from your version of Linux.
5. The system PATHs are also completely separate when using WSL . So if you install a program like Node on Windows, none of the commands will work in WSL, unless you install Node on Linux separately.

 

Alternatives to WSL

If you are an experienced Linux user who is not familiar with the Windows command line, there are other options for running Linux/Bash on a Windows machine.

1. Git Bash : This is a popular terminal emulator for Windows systems that allows users to run bash scripts and commands in a native environment. It is available as part of the Git for Windows client or can be downloaded separately from the official Git Bash download page. Unlike WSL, Git Bash integrates with the Windows PATH system. This can be more practical in a development environment because you can use many Linux commands while still having access to your Windows programs.
2. Cygwin : This suite provides a Unix-like environment on Windows, including tools such as grep, awk, and sed; it also includes OpenSSH server software so you can access your home computer remotely via SSH while working from another computer on the network (or remotely). You can visit the Cygwin website for more information.
3. Run Linux in a virtual machine : There are many virtualization programs out there. You can install the free version of VMware Workstation Player or VirtualBox on your PC, then download the ISO image file containing Ubuntu 18 LTS (or whatever version you want).

WSL is a nice feature. but it's not necessary

In short, WSL is a good option but not necessary if you are used to working in a Linux environment. If you want access to the thousands of open source projects out there and don't mind spending the extra time learning how to use them, then WSL is well worth it. If you just want to run a command line utility or two from time to time, you probably shouldn't invest in another set of tools for your toolbox just yet.

 

WSL is not for everyone. It's a niche tool, designed for developers who need to run Linux-based software on Windows 10 and 11 machines. If you're looking for something that makes your PC fast, secure, or easy to use. than maybe WSL won't be of much help.