The Windows Subsystem for Linux was one of the most interesting news that came to users of the operating system with one of the semi-annual updates. This subsystem allows HyperV to be used to install and virtualize a complete Linux system over Windows, being able to access a bash terminal and all its tools and commands. A novelty that had a great reception from users and developers, but still very green and with limitations, such as not being able to run anything in graphical mode, just having a Linux bash from your terminal.
Microsoft has been working very hard to debug and improve the overall performance of WSL2 ahead of the May 2020 Update , the new operating system update. For example, the company has significantly improved the performance of distros (up to 20 times faster) and has improved the way of interacting between the two systems by adding a Linux icon within the Windows file explorer.
Now, Microsoft has just announced another of the news that will come to the new version of WSL2 , and the truth is that it will revolutionize everything.
We can run Linux programs with interface
Microsoft announced a few hours ago what is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary novelties within WSL2. Thanks to all the improvements that have been implemented within the Windows Subsystem for Linux, the users who enable it will be able to run programs with a graphical interface directly above Windows 10. And without the need to install any third-party X server for it. end.
To do this, before you had to resort to alternatives such as VcXsrv, x410 or Xming, among others. However, being non-native, their operation and performance left a lot to be desired. Now, all users will be able to open, without depending on other projects, native Linux programs directly from the Windows 10 desktop.
In addition, WSL now has support for GPU hardware acceleration , which implies a considerable performance improvement and will allow developers to take better advantage of this component when using design programs or learning systems based on Machine Learning.
Other improvements and news that will come to the Windows Subsystem for Linux
Performance enhancement, GUI support, and hardware acceleration are nowhere near the only new features coming to this WSL2.
Microsoft wants both developers and users to feel as comfortable as possible with this subsystem. And for this, one of the aspects that has improved is the way to install and enable this function in Windows. For this we will only have to execute the command “wsl.exe -install” to start this subsystem. No more go into settings and enable features, it will do it all.
Microsoft has also decided to start using a real Linux Kernel , obtained directly from the kernel.org servers, to which it applies a series of changes and optimizations to work within WSL. This implies a significant performance improvement, eliminates the limitations of virtual machines and opens the door to new possibilities, such as being able to update it from Windows Update. The version of the Kernel that will be included by default will be 4.19, a little old, but with extended support.
And other improvements included within this new subsystem are:
- Fixed a large number of errors inherited from WSL1.
- Reduced memory consumption of the virtual machine.
- WSL is now case insensitive.
- Improvements when accessing resources from localhost.
- Maximum limit of 80% when using system memory.
- New options to configure WSL2 .
- A new library, wslclient.dll, with all the Windows command line functions.
WSL2 release date
The new version of WSL2 will hit all users next week , which is when the new version of Windows 10 will hit users. However, although this new version of Windows 10 will bring the new Windows Subsystem for Linux , not all its news will be available from the first moment.
Microsoft has announced that GUI support will take a little longer to arrive . As soon as it is ready Microsoft will take it to all users in the form of an update, but for now we will have to wait. The same occurs with the graphic acceleration of the GPU, which will also not be available from the first day, but will be reaching users over the coming months.