What the Heck is WSL 2? (My New Favorite Tool)

In this video I show you what WSL 2 is and how I use it for my data science workflow. This tool has completely changed how I do my work both as a data scientist and as a content creator.

Based on a poll I ran a few months ago, the vast majority of you aren't familiar with what WSL 2 is. Today I'm going to explain what exactly windows subsystem for linux 2 is and why it can be useful to you as a data scientist.

WSL2 lets me do is use both operating systems on the same computer without having to dual boot. Essentially, I can open a linux terminal on my windows machine, use all the linux commands, and have virtually all the same benefits of both windows and linux. Also… it is free, I know I’m going to be getting that question a lot in the comments.

WSL2 lets you use access the same file system from both windows and linux. To me, this is a massive deal. If I’m making a tutorial, say with NVIDIA’s RAPIDS that only works on linux, I can do the coding, record the screen, and edit the video all without switching between computers or turning them off and on.

This also opens up a huge suite of tools for you to use. For example, if wanted to explore data using one of the most popular BI tools out there, you wouldn’t have to figure out how to configure them on linux. This makes your work and your options more flexible.

0:00 Intro
0:44 What is WSL 2?
1:10 Why is this a big deal?
3:05 How does it perform?
3:45 What about data science?
4:10 My favorite part
5:05 Why this could be great for you!

#DataScience #KenJee

Partners & Affiliates

MORE DATA SCIENCE CONTENT HERE:

Check These Videos Out Next!

My Playlists

[KenJee_ds]

Thanks for watching everyone! I'd love to hear about your experience with WSL 2 or how you would use it in your workflow!

[teyang]

Hi Ken, was wondering if you can do a video on how you have used Linux for data science and what are the advantages of using it over windows? Thanks and great content as always!

[harshitsati]

I started using WSL since the last 5 months, it's really handy!

[LukeBarousse]

1:38 I feel attacked, Ken!!! 😡🤬We need Power BI on Linux (and Mac)!!
Moving past this, I will say that I love me some WSL2!! I think it's great for learning and practicing Linux commands in the terminal, which IMO is a core skill to have for data science.

[lardosian]

Have been using it a bit and so far everything works perfectly!

[manutexas]

Literally hit it on the nail for me. Combining BI tools on Windows and my Data Science work on Linux will be huge for me!

[shrutijain]

This was my first time knowing about this but it really sounds interesting and something worth look into💯✨

[danielq]

Great explanation! I absolutely hated using a VM (crappy performance) so I went with a dual boot setup. I will definitely have to give this a try, thanks!

[anubhavgoyal]

Thanks for the clear explanation! Now I surely know what it is xD

[ayushjain]

Love the way! You will also love if you know how wsl2 works behind the hood.

[mattRRgraham]

Give your glowing T-rex a good pat on the head for me. What a lovely companion.

[piyushzope]

Booting process is sometimes very boring... This is a best way 🙌

[williamguesdon]

I am a huge fan of WSL2. It make it easier to have one machine to do everything locally.

[TinaHuang]

Oh I thought it would be a cat pot which I must say has changed my life. BUT DIS RLY COOL TOO :D

[paherbst]

My general setup is to run Linux on bare metal and windows in a VM. One thing WSL 2 offers is the ability to share the gpu. that's a pretty big win. I wish there was a way to do the same with Linux as the host OS

[adriancoanda]

Nice in the future support for Mac os will be added

[averysmith]

Had never heard of this before!!!! But that’s really useful! Thank you for sharing. I have a Mac laptop, PC with windows and Linux. Lot of working switching back and forth

[vladislav]

I don't know what magic WSL2 uses, but it can consume up to 5.5 gigs of RAM of my 7 avaliable (1 gig is allocated to intergated GPU as VRAM). Can you even imagine launching virtual machine which can consume 80% with 1.5 gigs remained for host system?

[FH]

Hey, nice content, thanks a lot. By the way, which monitor are you using, if I may ask ? :)

[starship]

Is WSL 2, or just linux in general, something I should be familiar with before getting my first job as a data scientist? What resources should I use to learn?