A complete guide to windows subsystem for Linux (WSL): Installation and its use cases

Every developer working on a windows machine will have to use Linux at some point, most cloud platforms and VPS’s run on Linux distro’s so you may need to replicate the same environment on your local machine.

Instead of setting up a virtual machine or dual booting, WSL lets you run a full Linux environment directly inside your windows: its fast, lightweight and deeply integrated with your windows OS.

This Article covers

What is Windows Subsystem for Linux?

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature of Microsoft Windows that allows you to run a GNU/Linux environment directly on Windows without using a virtual machine.

There are two versions:

WSL 2 offers better performance, full system call compatibility, and Docker support.

Step by step installation of WSL

Step 1: Requirements

You must have:

Step 2: Quick Installation (Recommended)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

1wsl –install

This command will:

Step 3: Check WSL Version

After installation is completed run this command to check the version:

1wsl --list –verbose

To set WSL 2 as default :

1wsl --set-default-version 2

Step 4: Installation of a specific Linux Distributions

You can install distributions from the Microsoft Store:

Popular choices include:

Or via command line:

1wsl --install -d Ubuntu

First-Time Setup and Customization

After installation:

1sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

You now have a fully functional Linux environment inside Windows, you can go on to installing all useful tools you need such as git, node.js, java etc.

Accessing Files Between Windows and Linux

From Linux → Windows

Windows drives are mounted under:

1/mnt/c
2/mnt/d

Example:

1cd /mnt/c/Users/MyUserName/Documents

From Windows → Linux

Linux files are located at:

1\\wsl$\

Open File Explorer and type:

1\\wsl$\Ubuntu

Real-World Use Cases of WSL

1 Web Development

If you're using:

WSL provides a native Linux development experience while still using Windows tools like:

This is especially useful when deploying to Linux servers.

2 Docker & Container Development

WSL 2 integrates seamlessly with:

Docker Desktop uses WSL 2 as its backend, giving near-native Linux container performance.

3 DevOps & Cloud Engineering

Perfect for working with:

If you're working with Linux-based cloud environments (AWS, Azure, etc.), WSL ensures command compatibility.

4 Cybersecurity & Penetration Testing

Using:

Security professionals can run tools like:

Without installing a full VM.

5 Data Science & Machine Learning

Install:

Linux-based ML workflows run smoothly inside WSL.

GPU acceleration is supported on Windows 11 with compatible hardware.

6 Running Linux-only Tools

Some tools are Linux-native and don’t run well on Windows:

WSL allows seamless execution without switching operating systems.

WSL vs Virtual Machine

WSL is ideal for development. VMs are better for full OS isolation.

Advanced Features

WSLg (Linux GUI Apps)

On Windows 11, WSL supports GUI Linux apps like:

No extra configuration needed.

Multiple Distributions

You can install and run multiple Linux distros simultaneously:

1wsl --list --online

Export & Import Distros

Backup your distro:

1wsl --export Ubuntu ubuntu-backup.tar

When Should You Use WSL?

Use WSL if you:

When NOT to Use WSL

Avoid WSL if you need:

Final Thoughts

Windows Subsystem for Linux bridges the gap between Windows and Linux development environments.

For modern developers — especially those working with:

WSL is no longer optional — it’s essential.

If you are interested in learning more about Programming and Building project’s feel free to contact me below I give one on one lecture’s online on Google meet.