Microsoft has officially announced the open-sourcing of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing developers and enthusiasts worldwide to download, build, and modify WSL from its source code, as well as contribute fixes, propose enhancements, and actively engage in the subsystem's ongoing development. The announcement was made during the Build 2025 Developer Conference.
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The source code for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is now accessible on GitHub.
Overview of WSL Architecture
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) represents a comprehensive solution composed of components operating both within the Windows environment and inside the WSL 2 virtual machine.
The architecture of WSL can be segmented into the following key areas:
Command-Line Executables
These include wsl.exe, wslconfig.exe, and wslg.exe, which serve as the primary interfaces for interacting with WSL.
WSL Service (wslservice.exe)
This component is responsible for initializing the WSL virtual machine, launching Linux distributions, mounting file shares, and executing other essential operations.
Linux-Specific Binaries
These binaries operate within the Linux environment to enable core WSL functionalities. Examples include:
- init for system startup,
- gns for networking,
- localhost for port forwarding, among others.
- Plan9 Server Implementation. This module facilitates access to Linux files from the Windows environment, ensuring seamless interoperability between the two operating systems.
For more detailed information about each component, please refer to the official documentation: https://wsl.dev/.
Evolution of WSL
Microsoft introduced the second major version of WSL in 2019, progressively enhancing its capabilities by incorporating features such as GPU support. Over time, it became evident that to accommodate the growing demands of the community and expedite feature delivery, WSL needed to evolve independently of the Windows codebase.
In 2021, Microsoft took a pivotal step by decoupling WSL from the Windows operating system, transitioning it into a standalone codebase. This separation enabled faster updates and greater flexibility in addressing user feedback. With the recent 24H2 update for Windows 11, Microsoft has completed this transition by fully migrating WSL users to a package that operates independently of the core Windows OS.
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