Key Points
- Microsoft open-sources Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): The code for WSL is now available on GitHub, allowing community contributions.
- WSL’s architecture is revealed: The system comprises components running in Windows and a Linux virtual machine, with key parts like command line tools (e.g., wsl.exe) and Linux processes.
- Community-driven development expected to accelerate: With open sourcing, Microsoft anticipates faster improvements and feature additions to WSL, building on its growth since 2016.
Microsoft Open-Sources Windows Subsystem for Linux, Inviting Community Contributions
In a significant move, Microsoft announced the open-source release of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This milestone marks the culmination of a multiyear effort, addressing the first-ever issue raised on the Microsoft/WSL repository regarding open sourcing. The WSL codebase is now available on GitHub, enabling users to download, build, and contribute to the project’s active development.
Understanding WSL’s Architecture
WSL’s framework is divided into distinct components, some operating within Windows and others within the WSL 2 virtual machine. Key elements include:
- Command line executables (e.g., wsl.exe, wslconfig.exe, and wslg.exe), serving as entry points for user interaction.
- The WSL service, responsible for initiating the WSL virtual machine, launching distributions, and managing file access shares.
- Linux init and daemon processes (e.g., init, gns for networking, and localhost for port forwarding), which facilitate WSL functionality within the Linux environment.
- File sharing between Linux and Windows, facilitated by WSL’s plan9 server implementation.
While the majority of WSL’s components are now open source, some elements, such as Lxcore.sys (the kernel driver powering WSL 1) and P9rdr.sys and p9np.dll (handling filesystem redirection), remain part of the Windows image and are not currently open sourced.
A Brief History of WSL
Initially announced at BUILD 2016, WSL was first integrated into the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The early version, WSL 1, relied on a pico process provider (lxcore.sys) to run ELF executables and implement Linux syscalls within the Windows kernel. Recognizing the need for improved compatibility with native Linux, WSL 2 was introduced in 2019, leveraging the Linux kernel.
As the WSL community expanded, so did its feature set, incorporating GPU support, graphical applications (via wslg), and systemd support. To accelerate development and respond to community feedback, Microsoft decoupled WSL from the Windows codebase in 2021, transitioning it to an independent package. This new WSL package, initially released as version 0.47.1 in July 2021, saw its first stable release (WSL 1.0.0) in November 2022, adding support for Windows 10.
Recent Milestones and Community Involvement
The release of WSL 2.0.0 brought substantial enhancements, including mirrored networking, DNS tunneling, session 0 support, proxy support, and firewall integration. As of this writing, the latest version, WSL 2.5.7, demonstrates the project’s ongoing evolution, with nine pages of GitHub releases since its inception.
Microsoft acknowledges the pivotal role of the WSL community in shaping the subsystem’s growth. Contributors have made significant impacts, even without direct access to the source code. By open-sourcing WSL, Microsoft aims to further empower the community, anticipating accelerated development and innovative contributions.
Getting Involved
Interested developers and users can explore WSL’s inner workings and contribute to the project by visiting the microsoft/WSL repository on GitHub. This open-source initiative is poised to foster a new era of collaboration, driving WSL’s continued enhancement and refinement. As the community engages with the open-source codebase, the future of WSL promises to be shaped by collective efforts, ensuring the subsystem remains a vibrant and essential tool for Windows and Linux interoperability.
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