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Microsoft Operating Systems Windows Linux Technology

WLinux, the First Paid-for Linux Distro for Windows 10, Goes On Sale on Microsoft Store (techrepublic.com) 207

puddingebola shares a report: WLinux is a $20 open-source, Debian-based distribution, designed to run on Windows 10's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The WSL allows Windows 10 to run various GNU/Linux distros inside Windows as Microsoft Store apps, providing access to Ubuntu, openSUSE, Debian, Fedora, Kali Linux, and others. The WSL has disadvantages over a running a dedicated GNU/Linux system. For example, there's no official support for desktop environments or graphical applications, and I/O performance bottlenecks, but it is being improved over time. The developers of WLinux describe it as a "fast Linux terminal environment for developers", saying it is the first distribution to be "pre-configured and optimized to run specifically on Windows Subsystem for Linux". Announcing WLinux's availability, Microsoft program manager Tara Raj, called out the wlinux-setup tool, "which allows users to easily set up common developer toolchains, and removes unsupported features like systemd."
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WLinux, the First Paid-for Linux Distro for Windows 10, Goes On Sale on Microsoft Store

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  • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @10:29AM (#57605754) Homepage Journal

    Did Microsoft just release a Linux distro without systemd?

    Up is down and black is white, the world has gone mad.

    • by Junta ( 36770 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @10:44AM (#57605864)

      While the other distros have systemd in the repository, it doesn't actually run under WSL.

      So while this one is unambiguously systemd-free, the other distros are effectively systemd-free while under WSL.

      Working around the systemd-isms without being able to run systemd has been a big part of the whole WSL endeavor.

      • So how easy to pull the source and compile it? Save $20!

    • by Danathar ( 267989 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @12:01PM (#57606384) Journal
      It's not Linux. The Linux Kernel is not run.
    • by caseih ( 160668 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @12:11PM (#57606450)

      No, they certainly did not.

      Others may be confused over what WSL is, so it's worth repeating. No init system of any kind (sysv or systemd) make any sense in the WSL as it's currently designed. Windows itself is the init system for WSL. The Window kernel and the WSL is process 1 (calls itself init in the emulated Linux process list) and spawns linux binaries directly.

    • And we now have just heard from a kinder, gentler Linus Torvaldis.

      Your phone is ringing.

    • Did Microsoft just release a Linux distro without systemd?

      No, Microsoft did not release this. It was released by Whitewater Foundry, apparently independent.

  • by Luthair ( 847766 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @10:34AM (#57605786)
    Would one pay instead of using openSUSE, Ubuntu, or Debian? The value add from these guys must be tiny, maybe donate that $20 to Linux Foundation or some meaningful open source project.
    • I'd say if these guys are providing a service that further avoids switching environments back and forth, maybe it's worth it.

      The real question is: why isn't the FOSS community making such tools or preparing distros like these? If there's gimp, Open/LibreOffice among other FOSS apps for Windows, and they have a solid user base and provide necessary functionality for the community (which gives back), why is the FOSS community allowing this niche, but each day more meaningful scenario left to business players

      • FOSS is staying cautiously away, as this WSL thing is relatively new. Soon enough someone will decide they want to script the install, and then share it. And the project is born.

        Neck, why haven't you started it if you think it's that important?

        • There are actually multiple FOSS projects for managing the WSL subsystem (installing distros) without using the store.
      • There is a tool called "LxRunOffline" that lets you manage WSL distributions outside of the Windows store.

        You can run debootstrap, chroot and tar to generate a Debian or Ubuntu image for WSL. It turns out a little bigger than the ones from the Windows Store, but it does work.

      • I'd say if these guys are providing a service that further avoids switching environments back and forth, maybe it's worth it

        I think the point the GP was making was that openSUSE and Ubuntu for example already run in WSL and provide precisely that functionality.

    • by higuita ( 129722 )

      hey, some pleople always thing:

      if you pay for it, it is better than the free version ... go figure!! :D

  • Would like to see in the future for Microsoft to partner with Canonical and just sell Ubuntu laptop; MS can even buy Canonical if they wanted to. But for Linux to get mass adoption at the desktop level that would help a lot.
  • by fredrated ( 639554 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @12:29PM (#57606556) Journal

    At least that's pronounceable.

  • by rtkluttz ( 244325 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @01:37PM (#57607012) Homepage

    Is the same as doing heart surgery in the hospital toilet. It can work in theory, but you end up swimming in shit.

    • This comment brought to you by ignorance. But we can provide the same thought process in reverse: Why would anyone run Linux or Unix? I don't understand it, I won't research it, but from what I have seen the only thing it has ever done for us is let the dinosaurs out in Jurassic Park.

  • Not the first, far from it. There have been various paid-for boxed set Linux offerings, including Xandros, Suse [opensuse.org] and even Red Hat before they went all weak kneed on the desktop.

    Possibly the most successful? Well, the price is right. I seem to recall Xandros was $200 at the time. I can see numerous Windows users who previously swallowed the company line of Linux as cancer doing a 180 at this point for a tryout. Whether Microsoft is sincere in offering a polished product or whether their real goal is to make L

    • Oh I see. No box. $20 for a download, that's pretty rich, but maybe it's just normal for Windows victims.

      • Sigh. This product does provide value.
        It's a WSL distribution designed to be well integrated and useful for the group of people who use WSL (Mostly people developing on Windows who need, or can benefit from running Linux applications locally in a container with relatively unfettered access to their operating system- including sharing network interfaces, including localhost)
        No one is being victimized.
        • Should there be a $20 fee to download Libreoffice? Seems to be about the same argument you just made.

          What's with the "sigh"? To show how smart you are? You must be a fun guy at the watercooler.

          • If the developers of LibreOffice decide to charge for the download? Sure? Hell if I care... You're free to build this yourself, of course.
            A fee for built FOSS projects isn't abnormal these days.
            The "sigh" was in response to your snarky tone.
            As for showing how smart I am, overt demonstrations aren't really necessary when interacting with you.
            • The "sigh" was in response to your snarky tone.

              And your patronizing tone gets a pass according to you. Feeling a bit sorry for anybody who knows you IRL.

        • what value does this offer above, say, Ubuntu on WSL?

          • Targeting for common contemporary development packages that aren't part of the regular Ubuntu repos, and targeting for the problems involved with Ubuntu's WSL port that the Ubuntu team isn't really actively targeting.
            Is it worth $20? I suppose that's up to the buyer.
    • Microsoft 'sells' linux on their store for $0.

      this is not that. this is some guy trying to make a quick buck.

  • Given who is running the Linux section at Microsoft, old Xamarin retreads, it's a safe bet that there will be a shit-ton of promo for Mono build in, with a view to getting Windows Linux users hooked on DOT.NET.

    Naturally, expecting a bunch of slimy tricks. It's Microsoft after all, and some Linux turncoats.

  • I will stick to the free versions. don't need windows at all.

    I have linux on all of my computers. over the years I may have had one computer that either dual boot or just windows" just in case." but for the last couple of years I have not needed windows except to make sure it was updated so it is now gone.

  • Downloaded Microsoft's proprietary, heavily restricted build of this editor [github.com] which Microsoft suggests is an editor for wlinux. WTF? Doesn't run in text mode. But wlinux is text mode only. WTF.

    And this is written in javascript. Again. WTF? Takes a full second to start up. Seriously, WTF?

    Is this what it's always like in Microsoft land? I don't miss it a bit.

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