Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is one such application to boot multiple operating systems in parallel on the Windows platform. WSL lets you install and run your preferred Linux distribution (Which is available in the Microsoft Store) on your Windows computer like an application.

In this post, we will show you practical procedures such as how to install, enable, set up and configure Windows Subsystem for Linux on Windows computers.

What is the Windows Subsystem for Linux?

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables (in ELF format) natively on Windows 10. WSL provides a Linux-compatible kernel interface developed by Microsoft, allowing users to run native Linux apps in unmodified Linux distributions running on the Windows kernel. This is made possible through a new Linux-compatible subsystem that was added to the Windows Kernel called Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

-Wikipedia

WSL offers a simpler installation process for several popular Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Kali Linux. Microsoft is working with Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, to bring the entire userland to Windows as separate application packages. This makes it possible to run Ubuntu on Windows without having to dual-boot or use a virtual machine.

Requirement

You must be running Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) or Windows 11 to use the commands below. If you are on earlier versions please see the manual install page.

Please see WSL official installation tutorial by Microsoft for details.

You can check your Windows version by going to Settings App or using a keyboard shortcut 🪟 + I, then go to System > About > Windows specifications.

Install WSL2 on Windows 11

Open Terminal/Command Prompt

For installation

• Click Start Menu or use a keyboard shortcut 🪟 + R.

• then type cmd.

• for the shortcut, click OK.

• for the start menu, right-click the logo Command Prompt > Run as administrator.

Install WSL

After the command prompt opens, type the command below then enter to execute:

wsl --install

The command above will install VM and WSL and install Ubuntu OS in it.

After successful installation, reboot your computer to apply the changes.

After reboot, Open your Terminal/Command Prompt and set up your Linux username & password.

Set Ubuntu as a default

• Open your Terminal/Command Prompt

• Escape and go to Settings, or with a shortcut Ctrl + ,

  

• After that, then click Default Profile

  

• and, set Default Profile as Ubuntu and click Save

  

Modify & Beauty your terminal

Custom color scheme & Font

In this article, we use a BIM color scheme and use Hack Font. Download and install this font if your computer does not have Hack Font.

Open JSON Terminal Settings

And add/replace like below on profiles and schemes:

{
    "copyOnSelect": true,
    "profiles": {
        "defaults": {
            "colorScheme": "BIM",
            "font": {
                "face": "Hack",
                "size": 11
            },
            "opacity": 40,
            "useAcrylic": true,
            "cursorShape": "bar"
        }
    },
    "schemes": [
        {
            "background": "#18214B",
            "black": "#2C2423",
            "blue": "#5EA2EC",
            "brightBlack": "#918988",
            "brightBlue": "#81B3EC",
            "brightCyan": "#81EEB2",
            "brightGreen": "#BBEE78",
            "brightPurple": "#BB79EC",
            "brightRed": "#F579B2",
            "brightWhite": "#F5EEEC",
            "brightYellow": "#F5B378",
            "cursorColor": "#A9BED8",
            "cyan": "#5EEEA0",
            "foreground": "#A9BED8",
            "green": "#A9EE55",
            "name": "BIM",
            "purple": "#A957EC",
            "red": "#F557A0",
            "selectionBackground": "#E962FF",
            "white": "#918988",
            "yellow": "#F5A255"
        }
    ]
}

Install ZSH

Please see official installation guide

Update the system

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Install zsh

To install zsh, you can run this command:

sudo apt-get install zsh -y

To set zsh as your default shell, run this command:

chsh -s zsh

or skip the above command for now & install oh-my-zsh

Install Oh-My-Zsh

Install oh-my-zsh

If Git is not installed on your ubuntu, follow the command below:

sudo apt-get install git

Skip this command if Git is installed

Optional: Backup original .zshrc file

cp ~/.zshrc ~/.zshrc.orig

For Install oh-my-zsh, follow the command below:

git clone https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh.git ~/.oh-my-zsh &&
cp ~/.oh-my-zsh/templates/zshrc.zsh-template ~/.zshrc

Set oh-my-zsh as a default shell

chsh -s $(which zsh)

Custom theme

• Download My Theme

wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/nsmle/bcb8708020d8d44e15c82454ec1392c2/raw/c1e119376efdbb5119af9a79f82ee4c8f76153e8/nsmle.zsh-theme && 
mv nsmle.zsh-theme $HOME/.oh-my-zsh/custom/themes/MyTheme.zsh-theme

• Replace theme on ~/.zshrc

  • Edit ~/.zshrc file with Nano

    • If nano is not installed, follow the command below:

        sudo apt-get install nano
      

  • Edit file with Nano

      nano $HOME/.zshrc
    

  • Replace content ZSH_THEME with MyTheme, Default:

      ZSH_THEME="robbyrussell"
    

    Replace with :

      ZSH_THEME="MyTheme"
    

  • Type Ctrl + X then type y and Enter for save file

    

• Execute zsh to show the changes

    exec zsh
  

If installation is success, your terminal view will like bellow