Microsoft Is Destroying Linux – WSL & WSL2 Are Evil!

Microsoft Is Destroying Linux – WSL & WSL2 Are Evil!

A video covering my opinions on the Windows Subsystem for Linux. I believe it is debilitating to the Linux community. Take a look and let me know what you think in the comments below.



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[damienbutt]

As a developer, I would use Linux for everything that I could, but unfortunately there are some proprietary hardware vendors that I work with and their software only runs on Windows. I have to use Windows for some stuff or I just wouldn’t make money. I virtualise Windows. I can and do use PowerShell, but I’m so much more comfortable and productive in a unix like shell. I used to use Git Bash on Windows (still do sometimes), which has been around for ages. Similar to WSL1 with a compatibility layer. For me WSL2 is a bit of a hog as it means using nested virtualisation given I am already virtualising Windows. For me, it’s simply being able to use a unix like shell with all the utilities I’m used to and have them behave exactly the same as on Linux.

[CollectedG]

Anytime Microsoft partners with a company, you should panic. Former employees who worked for Microsoft in the 90s have admitted that the only reason they partnered with Sega was to get as much R&D from them as they could and sabotage their marketshare.

Compare the Dreamcast controller to the OG Duke Xbox controller. There's almost no differences outside of the vmu slot being replaced with a giant xbox logo.

[gordonfreimann]

As a developer point of view, i think this does not devalue Linux being on the Microsoft store but rather shows how powerful linux can be. It can run on basically anything and is there another operating system this flexible? I dont think so. And how sad it is for Microsoft not being able to get rid of Linux even though they want it so bad. They had to put Linux into their shell to be able to keep developers from going away. Also it does not make sense for non developers to use it just for trying Linux out. A lot of features that come with a real linux is not included.

[ruddock]

Linux videos like this are doing more harm to Linux than Microsoft ever could, instead of constantly bashing Microsoft concentrate on promoting Linux as it just comes across as annoying and petty!!

[salimsg]

WSL n WSL2 could work against windows too. It could draw more windows users to try out Linux, and later onto the real thing, the real Linux environment.

[cheebadigga]

WSL 1 and 2 were ALWAYS aimed at developers. That's why you either have to enter "wsl --install" in PowerShell with Admin privileges or enable specific Windows features in a specific order, or use DISM for that. They don't present WSL as a feature for day to day Windows users. You actually HAVE TO KNOW that it's there and how to install it. Maybe the Microsoft Store does present it as a feature, but who the hell uses that anyways? But I digress. Either way, as a software engineer who has to use Windows at work, WSL is a heaven sent for me to develop on. WSL will NEVER "destroy" native Linux, it simply can't because it's a frikken HyperV VM (rather optimized nonetheless). No HyperV stuff EVER "destroyed" anything yet. WSL is a "Windows Subsystem" - it will only be relevant to Windows and native Linux won't get a single scratch from it. It might, however, increase interest in Linux native for all that I can see... Please stop spreading BS! It's not "evil", it's not "destroying" anything, it's JUST a special little something that's hidden from "normal" PC use and PRIMARILY AIMED AT DEVELOPERS. Has always been. Will always be. Period.

[WarmProp]

I don't think you know what you're talking about most of the time.

[justinhall]

My Odyssey with Linux began back in 1998 when I sat down and actually read the EULA for Windows 98 and said nope! I can not agree to this.

[ioagel]

It is not... I tested my java development workflow using intellij with heavy docker usage (multiple microservices) in wsl2, ubuntu vm (vmware workstation) in windows and bare metal linux. Fastest descending: 1st) bare-metal linux 2nd) ubuntu vm 3rd) wsl2. Even the vm running in windows was faster than wsl2 and if you add all the annoyances that wsl2 brings compared to pure linux... It is so inferior OS for any modern backend/frontend developer, it is not even

[louaguado]

I remember micro-shaft doing their app's back from windows 8. Of course they said it's easier to find app's in one place, they were optimized to run better, and they were safe from viruses. I tried their version of VLC media player, it seemed like a light version and would constantly freeze up on me. The tracking issues are ridiculous.

[pupaepedorra]

Well no, there is no such thing as "looking too much" into something, as long as you keep focused and objective, you SHOULD look as far as you can. The work you do is priceless, and we are very grateful for it.

[twistedoracle]

This for developers. They could easily run Linux in a virtual machine, they are just making it more convenient.

The reason why it is in the same list as minecraft is because the Microsoft store is shit.

[avivarma]

i’m going to have to defend WSL here, i’m only 23 so bare that in mind. about 2 years ago I wasn’t really into Linux until at university i was introduced to WSL and man i loved the development experience on Linux which has now got me into making Linux my primary OS. the initial barrier of entry of dual booting was enough to push me away previously. so making Linux this accessible is a positive in my experience.

[astropgn]

I really disagree with the argument that having WSL "bastardizes what Linux is all about". How can one claim that Linux should be free and open for everyone to use, and when one agent takes this philosophy and uses it you get all "oh no, it should be use freely, but not THAT freely...". So, should it be free for everyone, or shouldn't it? You can't get both ways, you have to choose. If you defend the freedom and "open sourceness" of Linux, you have to agree that both minor and major players will be able to use it.

WSL was meh, WSL2 is awesome. This video just hates windows.

[dynamitestyle]

I duel boot Ubuntu with Windows on 2 separate hard drives and it's nice to be able to use WSL to mount my ext4 hard drives to Windows when I need it.

[v]

WSL is just one tile of the strategy Microsoft started 10 years ago with supporting Linux on Azure. MS was "contributing" Hypervisor kernel drivers to allow Linux to run and integrate with Azure cloud management system. WSL is using the same drivers on your PC.

[Count_Xero]

To be fair, for a long time; one of the selling points for Linux has been the software repos. Apple, Microsoft, Google, Samsung etc. are all trying to create a robust software store (aka repo). Well curated software isn't a bad thing. All of these operating systems still support side loading. Most users are not tech savvy enough or are not in the know about every malware or exploit and these companies take action to protect the users and avoid expensive lawsuits by removing the attack vector as quickly as possible. Linux is great for the savvy command line heroes, but it can be a point of contention for less technical users.

[fg-zmyu]

The WSL images have configuration that is exclusive to Microsoft (warning) and it also requires to have paravirtualization enabled, so in my case, stucked with a corporate Windows PC, I directly use hyper-v to get a GNU/Linux VM with encrypted LVM, and another Windows system without the corporate policies, to be able to do my work.

[prakhars]

if you can't defeat them, just join them. excellent move Microsoft.

[mcsorens]

I'm done with HP and Dell also. My next computer will be from ThinkPenquin or System 76. I might build my own maybe that way I know it's mine.