WSL is Microsoft's compatibility layer—now open source—that allows Linux binaries (CLI and GUI) to run natively on Windows without a VM. WSL 1 handles syscall translation; WSL 2 uses a lightweight VM with full Linux kernel, enabling full Linux compatibility, improved I/O, GPU acceleration, and support for distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, etc.

Features

  • Native Linux command-line and GUI support inside Windows
  • WSL 2: lightweight VM with full Linux kernel
  • GPU acceleration-enabled for ML/graphics workloads
  • Supports multiple distros via Microsoft Store/Winget
  • Now open-source—community can contribute on GitHub
  • Fast I/O and integration with Windows filesystem/network

Project Samples

WSL Screenshot 1

Project Activity

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Categories

Virtualization

License

MIT License

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WSL Web Site

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Additional Project Details

Operating Systems

Windows

Programming Language

C++

Related Categories

C++ Virtualization Software

Registered

2025-07-08
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