Linux Development on Windows? Yes, It’s Actually Good Now.

Tux

As a lifelong UNIX and Linux-first developer, being handed a Windows machine used to mean one thing: I’m installing Ubuntu as fast as humanly possible. My muscle memory, my dev workflow, my terminal—everything lives in the Linux ecosystem.

So when I sat down in front of a Windows 10 workstation years ago, I assumed I’d spin up a VM and call it a day.

Instead, I decided to give the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) a real try. Back then it was WSL1. Now, in 2025, WSL2 has matured into a legitimately solid development environment. If you’re a web developer, sysadmin, or CLI-heavy engineer, it’s shockingly good.

Why WSL Is Worth Using

Modern WSL (especially WSL2) provides:

  • A full Linux kernel
  • Fast filesystem performance
  • Great Node, Python, Ruby, and PHP support
  • Seamless SSH usage
  • Easy Docker Desktop integration
  • Optional GPU compute support
  • Tight VS Code integration (Remote - WSL)

For anyone doing backend, full-stack, or cloud development, it’s no longer a compromise—it’s actually productive.

Installing WSL on Windows (Yes, it’s this easy now)

Microsoft dramatically simplified the process. Instead of digging through optional features, the modern approach is a single PowerShell command:

wsl --install

That’s it.

This command:

  • Enables WSL
  • Installs WSL2
  • Installs the default Linux distribution (usually Ubuntu)
  • Sets everything up automatically

After a reboot, you have a working Linux environment that behaves exactly like a native Ubuntu machine.

If you want a specific distro:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

Or list all available distributions:

wsl --list --online

Working Inside WSL

Once installed:

ubuntu

…drops you into a real Linux shell with apt, systemd, and the entire Linux world at your fingertips.

Install whatever you normally would:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential git nginx nodejs

It’s your environment—your dotfiles, your tools, your workflow.

Using VS Code with WSL

One of the biggest reasons developers adopt WSL:
VS Code integrates with it perfectly.

Install the “Remote - WSL” extension, open a folder inside WSL, and Code automatically connects to your Linux environment. Extensions, terminals, debugging—everything just works.

Even Docker containers can be built and run from inside WSL using Docker Desktop’s WSL backend.

For modern web development, it’s a surprisingly polished experience.

GUI Apps? Yes, That Works Too.

This used to require X-servers like VcXsrv.
Now Windows supports native Linux GUI apps directly in WSL2.

Just install any GUI package in Linux and launch it:

sudo apt install gedit
gedit

Apps appear as native Windows windows—no extra configuration needed.

So, Would I Replace My Linux Machines With Windows + WSL?

Not a chance.
But:

Windows + WSL has become a legitimate development setup, especially if your work includes:

  • Corporate environments
  • Windows-only applications
  • .NET development
  • GPU compute workflows
  • Cross-platform testing
  • Hybrid environments (Linux servers + Windows tooling)

For SSH, Docker, backend work, and local dev environments, WSL2 is fast, familiar, and surprisingly enjoyable.

I won’t give up my pure Linux boxes anytime soon, but WSL has earned a real spot in my toolkit.

If you’re a developer who lives in the terminal, try WSL2. You might actually like it.