In this post, I m going to show you a few of the features of WSL that I personally find very interesting, as well as point you to some resources to help you learn more. First, I’ll show the integration of staple commands like ssh for working with Linux servers and devices. Second, I’ll demonstrate the ability to use Bash scripting to automate tasks in a very natural way. Third, I’ll have a little fun with the great command-line compilers, other tools and the *nix compatibility offered, and play a little NetHack. Finally, I’ll show you the ability to use existing Python and other scripts available on the web.
So the guy installed it (didn’t cover how to do that) and then showed us how to use bash.
Edited 2016-07-23 16:56 UTC
I see tons of references to console-only, but what if I want to run X apps remotely? Or, on a Windows-based X server, such as Xming?
Guess I’ll find out in a week and a half.
I think running apps remotely has worked with Window based X servers for many years already.
Running locally seems to be also possible, but does not work yet out of the box https://github.com/Microsoft/BashOnWindows/issues/637
Hahah wow. Running a full Unity desktop, or a WM of any kind, is certainly beyond my needs, but nice to know it’s still possible.
As it is, I typically just aim for running terminals and text editors remotely. Maybe a web browser, too, though, that is less common.
You mean, like xpra with winswitch ?
https://xpra.org/
http://winswitch.org/about/
Well, I use Xming already, either for running X software on local virtual machines, or sometimes, on remote systems located at my scool. I was primarily wondering if WSL was complete enough to run X apps, so, say, I could run the Linux version of Gimp locally rather than the Windows one (not specifically gimp, but just an example). You know, in case there’s that one Linux app with a GUI that I want to run without having to jump through the hoops of VM shares and virtual machines.
for me cygwin is still the winner. it may have some quirks as solution (permission/rights for example), but it allows me control the windows part of the computer (for example run visual studio from command line and sed the output)
until ms makes this happen, their linwin subsystem feels a bit uncomfortable (ignoring bugs like broken console here and then)
Edited 2016-07-26 12:44 UTC