How to code from windows….dramatic music….Ba Ba Baaaam…awkward silence…Load Ubuntu (WSL) onto Windows 10.
Ok i know what your all thinking…but why….🤷♂️ Ubuntu on windows 10 here it is…
So i know there are many options available…Why wouldn't you just buy a MAC?…Why not just run Linux?…valid questions! But if right now you have a windows based system and you DONT! want to run linux but DO! want to learn how to run things like a professional developer and learn how to use the Bash command line terminal instead of Windows Powershell then we can cover how to do that here. It wont cost a cent! plus your developer tools availability and quality will be worth it.
Today we learn how to download & install UBUNTU onto your windows 10 laptop and insure it is configured and ready to go….what am i waiting for?….lets go!!
STEP 1
Enabling your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Sounds complex right?!….Dont stress its really easy…
- Firstly type Powershell into your start bar in windows 10. It will show a result of the windows Powershell app.
- Right click on the Powershell app and select “Run as Administrator” from the pop up box.
3. When the power shell terminal loads enter the following syntax into the terminal. Then press enter.
At this stage it will more than likely ask you to re-start your computer….Go right ahead…leave me…i can deal….No wait come back!!
Did ya miss me? awwww shucks thanks 😍 …hm hmmm moving right along…
STEP 2
Download your Distro..or WSL…or whatever its called
Time to install your preferred WSL or Distro ←-Means distribution ( The terminal you choose )...Here i am demonstrating UBUNTU.
options:
- Go to the windows app store and download the latest Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (or later). follow the prompts.
- Download it directly from windows online HERE ←-This is a link 👌
- Lastly, and i must vouch that haven't tried this one. But according to my reliable sources of information that claim to be reliable 😉 you can download it from directly within Powershell with the syntax to follow.
STEP 3
Install your distro…
We made it…step 3…yew GO TEAM!!
Now you have downloaded it simply run the installer and follow the prompts. Once installed it will request that you set a Username and Password …remember these ones. You should also verify that that its logged in to the correct user by typing whoami into your command prompt
Ill be waiting…..
zzz….zzzzzzzzzzzzz…zzz..zzzzzz….Oh your back! great on-wards then shall we!
STEP 4
Time to Update and Upgrade your Distro package.
Windows does not automatically update and upgrade your distro…this is a task that we must perform ourselves from time to time…..Jee thanks windows your a real hoot 😒
Simply enter the following syntx into your command prompt in the UBUNTU command line.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
And that my dudes is it….we did it…we finally did it…Its been a journey man ✌ …peace…
NOTES
A few things to keep in mind…
You should probly create some links to windows so that if you lose everything on your linux system UBUNTU the wsl or distro that you just installed and configured … even though im sure its uber reliable… you still have your files and projects.
keep an eye out for my next blog post to see a tutorial on how to do this… keepin ya hooked…dont leave me…im so lonely
Your home directory also know as ~ will more than likely be located at home/username which inst your windows home directory. To access your windows folders you will need to use a /mnt addition to your paths i.e /mnt/c/etc …more about this when you come back to visit…
