At its BUILD 2025 occasion right this moment Microsoft has introduced the open-sourcing of its in style Home windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which lets you run Linux inside Home windows, with out the overhead of a digital machine. By open sourcing WSL, Microsoft is inviting builders to make enhancements in direction of their wants by contributing pull requests to the WSL repository.

The Home windows Subsystem for Linux has been obtainable for Home windows ever since 2016. Till now, it has been distributed below a proprietary license. Whereas the code for the WSL 2 kernel is obtainable already on GitHub, the supply of the WSL code itself is novel.

WSL is a great tool for builders preferring to make use of Linux command-line instruments reminiscent of bash, grep, awk, and sed for coding, making functions, and even managing servers. WSL is handy as a result of it permits builders to make use of these instruments with out ever leaving Home windows, or having to spin up a digital machine.

In some fields, reminiscent of knowledge science or net growth, some instruments are unique to Linux, so having WSL as an choice is usually a lifesaver in some conditions. WSL can also be an honest choice in the event you’re taken with studying Linux and need a secure and simple solution to experiment with Linux and its command line with out having to put in it in your laptop alongside Home windows.

WSL shouldn’t be the one factor Microsoft has determined to open supply at BUILD 2025, the corporate has additionally accomplished the identical with GitHub Copilot in Visible Studio Code. In each conditions, Microsoft says it’s desirous to get extra enter from builders in order that they may also help to form these instruments and make them higher.