WSL: Linux on Windows

Want to use Linux tools (Docker, Python, Node.js) without leaving Windows? Meet WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). It is a full Linux kernel running in parallel with your primary system.

Before you begin, check your BIOS settings. Virtualization (VT-x or AMD-V) must be enabled. Without this, Linux will not launch.

Let’s look at how to set up both systems to work together seamlessly.

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1. Checking the Status

Before starting, check your current system state in PowerShell:

wsl -l -v

wsl -l -v returns a list of installed distributions:

• Empty response: No distributions installed.
• Ubuntu: Linux is already installed.
• docker-desktop / docker-desktop-data: Technical distributions for Docker Desktop.

⚠️ The VERSION column should show 2. If it shows 1, update the distribution using the command wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2.

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2. Installation

If Linux is not installed, run PowerShell as an administrator and enter:

wsl --install

The system will prepare Ubuntu. Once finished, restart your computer to finalize the kernel configuration.

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3. User Setup

Upon the first launch, WSL will prompt you to create a user. If you see root@PC_NAME in the terminal—that is normal.

Root is required for system settings; create a separate user for development.

Note ⚠️: The tilde symbol ~ represents the home directory path. For root, it is /root; for a regular user, it is /home/your_username. If you create projects under root, you will encounter permission issues in VS Code. The command cd ~/projects will lead to different locations for root and a regular user.

How to create a user:

# Create user your_username
adduser your_username
# Grant administrative privileges (for sudo)
usermod -aG sudo your_username

To ensure WSL always opens with your username, enter this in Windows PowerShell:

# Replace your_username with your actual username
ubuntu config --default-user your_username

The terminal will now greet you with: your_username@PC_NAME:~$.

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4. Where to Store Code

WSL can access Windows drives (/mnt/c/), but do not store your projects there.

Windows and Linux file systems communicate slowly. Storing projects on the C: or D: drive will significantly slow down your work with code.

The correct place: your Linux home folder.
Enter:

cd ~
mkdir projects && cd projects

This ensures maximum speed. To open the folder in Windows Explorer: explorer.exe .

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5. Tech Stack

Python (venv)

Isolate packages in Linux. Do not install libraries globally; use virtual environments:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install python3-pip python3-venv -y

# Project setup
mkdir my_project && cd my_project
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

Node.js (NVM)

The standard apt install nodejs often installs an outdated version. Use NVM (Node Version Manager):

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts    # Installs the latest stable version

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6. Integration

VS Code

Install VS Code on Windows and the Remote – WSL extension. Running code . in the Ubuntu terminal will open the project in the Windows interface, while the code executes inside Linux.

Docker

In Docker Desktop settings (Settings -> Resources -> WSL Integration), enable the checkbox for Ubuntu. You can now manage containers directly from the Linux terminal.

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7. Daily Cheat Sheet

• whoami — Check if you are root or a regular user.
• pwd — Full path to the current folder.
• wsl --shutdown — (In PowerShell) Fully stop Linux to clear RAM.
• cat file.txt | clip.exe — Copy text from Linux to the Windows clipboard.

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Workflow:

1. Open terminal. You see: your_username@....
2. Enter project: cd ~/projects/my-app.
3. Launch VS Code: code ..
4. Profit.

Your system is now professionally configured.