Windows Subsystem for Linux, or WSL, lets you run a Linux command-line environment directly on Windows. It is helpful for developers, DevOps work, Docker workflows and Linux tooling without a separate virtual machine.
Enable WSL
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-LinuxConfirm the prompt and restart Windows if requested.
YInstall a Linux distribution
After enabling the feature, install a distribution such as Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store. Launch it once to create the Linux user account.
Why WSL is useful
WSL gives access to common Linux tools such as SSH, Git, Bash, package managers and scripting utilities while keeping Windows applications available.
Recommended setup
Keep your project files in a location that works well with your tools, update packages regularly and use SSH keys for remote server access.