Microsoft finally open-sources (most of) Windows Subsystem for Linux

HJBC/Getty Images It took Microsoft long enough, but the company has finally open-sourced its Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) code. The announcement was made at the Build 2025 developer conference, closing a nearly nine-year-old request from the developer community, and signals a new era of collaboration between Microsoft and open-source contributors. Also: Rust turns 10: How a broken elevator changed software forever For those who don't know, WSL enables users to run Linux distributions natively within Windows. This process provides seamless integration between Linux distributions and their tools and Windows. Since its introduction at Build 2016 and subsequent release in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, WSL has become indispensable for developers who need access to Linux utilities, command-line tools, and even graphical Linux applications, without leaving Windows. So, why would anyone want this ability? Microsoft created WSL primarily to provide developers, especially web deve ... Read full article.