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Working with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Importing a Distribution

You will use WSL in several upper-level Computer Science classes. Most of them will provide a custom Linux image for you to use in class. Follow these steps to import an image provided by your instructor. Or  if you prefer (opens in a new tab).

1. Start a Windows command prompt by searching for cmd.
2. Locate the file containing the Linux image; usually this will be in your courses' folder in the Computer Science Students Google Shared Drive.
3. Pick a location where you'd like to store the files for the image. Don't store the files on Google Drive, Drop Box, OneDrive, or any other cloud-based file system
   
   If you're not sure, you can use %USERPROFILE%\Documents\CSCIXXX, where XXX is your course number.
4. Execute the following command:

   wsl --import Distro VMPATH  FILE

   where:
   • Distro is the name you'd like to give the distribution (e.g. CSCI361)
   • VMPATH is the folder you chose to store the files for the image
   • FILE is the name of the file containing the image

Note this could take 5–10 minutes depending on the speed of your computer.

Starting and using a Distribution

The best way to run your distribution is via the Windows Terminal application. Terminal provides a tabbed interface, allowing you to have several concurrent sessions without having lots of windows open.

Terminal will start either a Command Prompt or PowerShell instance by default. You can easily change that by pressing Ctrl - Comma to open the settings page, and then changing the Default Profile.

Usually your instructor will have created a non-root account for you to use, but will have given that user sudo privileges to allow you install new software as needed.

Watch this to get a tour of the WSL filesystem and learn how to edit code using Visual Studio Code.

For more information

You can learn more about WSL by browing   (opens in a new tab).