Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux • Hacker News Board

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#31

Post by serge2k » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:35 AM UTC

SwellJoe wrote: post #16

I just got a new laptop, and as it doesn't have an optical drive and I couldn't find a USB flash drive in order to install Linux, I've kinda been stuck on Windows for a few days. I installed WSL a few days ago. Installation is a ridiculous process, and takes about 24 hours for the service to finally appear after you follow the steps to make it happen, which is not well-documented and just feels idiotic to a Linux use…

> I installed WSL a few days ago. Installation is a ridiculous process, and takes about 24 hours for the service to finally appear after you follow the steps to make it happen, which is not well-documented and just feels idiotic to a Linux user, who's used to being able to change kernels in about three minutes, and switch back and forth at will.

That is not my experience.

edit: I already had insider builds.

I don't know if it is fair to include the OS update time, but I can see why it is frustrating.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#32

Post by KirinDave » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:36 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

I am really looking forward to this for my Surface Book. Historically I've loaded up a virtual machine running Linux, this was more complete and had fewer hiccups than a Cygwin type of setup for me. Of course it would be REALLY useful if they also support NFS for mounting stuff from my NAS appliance and a compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.) that would allow things that create windows to work as well.

I use the current fast ring insider builds with no substantial problems right now. Why wait?

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#33

Post by KirinDave » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:36 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

I am really looking forward to this for my Surface Book. Historically I've loaded up a virtual machine running Linux, this was more complete and had fewer hiccups than a Cygwin type of setup for me. Of course it would be REALLY useful if they also support NFS for mounting stuff from my NAS appliance and a compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.) that would allow things that create windows to work as well.

I use the current fast ring insider builds with no substantial problems right now. Why wait?

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#34

Post by Animats » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:39 AM UTC

Why would you need a Linux subsystem to run Python? Python runs just fine on Windows. All my Python programs run on both platforms.

If you just want command line tools, there's Cygwin.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#35

Post by serge2k » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:41 AM UTC

SwellJoe wrote: post #20

sdegutis wrote: post #4

ELI5: What does this mean to me, as a developer who's really familiar with (and prefers) Linux, but has to use Windows? What cool possibilities will this "Linux Subsystem For Windows" open up to me? What things will it specifically not open up to me?

I've been primarily a Linux user since 1995, and have been using Windows 10+WSL for the past week or so, since getting a new laptop. The only thing I can think of that it'll open up for you is if you want to develop for Windows, while still having Linux available to you. Whether that's for developing games (most of the good game development tools run only on Windows, even if they can deploy to Linux/Mac/Android), or…

> The modern Linux desktop is every bit as good as Windows (and Mac OS), IMHO

I still adamantly oppose linux unless used through SSH.

I use windows for games and as a result just day to day stuff. This makes my life better because I don't have to use putty for SSH. At work being able to use linux tooling is wonderful. Just such a massive improvement over trying to figure out the command shell stuff.

> WSL is still very buggy and quirky, and the Windows build it runs on crashes several times a day (at least on my laptop, it does), so it's a net loss in productivity for me, as I'm spending some time waiting on reboots.

I had some weird video issues. In fairness, it's an insider build. Once they actually release the update maybe it will be better.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#36

Post by serge2k » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:43 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

I am really looking forward to this for my Surface Book. Historically I've loaded up a virtual machine running Linux, this was more complete and had fewer hiccups than a Cygwin type of setup for me. Of course it would be REALLY useful if they also support NFS for mounting stuff from my NAS appliance and a compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.) that would allow things that create windows to work as well.

> compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.)

you can run an X server from windows and connect to it from linux. Not bug free but it does work.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#37

Post by benlower » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:44 AM UTC

Animats wrote: post #34

Why would you need a Linux subsystem to run Python? Python runs just fine on Windows. All my Python programs run on both platforms. If you just want command line tools, there's Cygwin.

Python isn't installed by default on Windows. So this makes it easier.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#38

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:48 AM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

I am really looking forward to this for my Surface Book. Historically I've loaded up a virtual machine running Linux, this was more complete and had fewer hiccups than a Cygwin type of setup for me. Of course it would be REALLY useful if they also support NFS for mounting stuff from my NAS appliance and a compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.) that would allow things that create windows to work as well.

[deleted]

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#39

Post by rodgerd » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:50 AM UTC

KirinDave wrote: post #32

ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

I am really looking forward to this for my Surface Book. Historically I've loaded up a virtual machine running Linux, this was more complete and had fewer hiccups than a Cygwin type of setup for me. Of course it would be REALLY useful if they also support NFS for mounting stuff from my NAS appliance and a compositor (Wayland/X11/Etc.) that would allow things that create windows to work as well.

I use the current fast ring insider builds with no substantial problems right now. Why wait?

It's on the slow ring now, too, which is where I'm using it. I'm quite impressed so far. There's some performance overhead in some cases (e.g. Hugo for Linux is about half the speed in the lxrun environment than Hugo for Windows on the same machine), but it's very pleasant.

Re: Fun with the Windows Subsystem for Linux

#40

Post by rodgerd » Sat, Jul 23, 2016, 12:51 AM UTC

vmarsy wrote: post #17

ryanlm wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. This looks like an elementary Linux tutorial.

Agreed. for an elementary tutorial, I would have not put that rm -rf /mnt/c/ command on it, at least I would have put a # in front just in case. Once the authors discovers GNUScreen/tmux, xargs and other tools, his life will change :)

tmux works, screen shits the bed.