Bad Idea ?? WSL on Win 10

[MurphCID]

I will gleefully admit my ignorance of WSL, does it mean that you can run Linux in a virtual machine on Windows? That is somewhat interesting, but how does it work in practice? I know that recently Windows Power Shell is attempting to give Windows a more Linux like experience where you can do more things in the terminal where before they made it really hard to do those things.

I am not nearly technically profecient enough to give a good overview of it.

My understanding is that it isn't a virtual box, but a way to run Linux INSIDE of Windows. Something along the line of Linux running while still using windows. My understanding (again, I could be wrong), is that unlike a virtual machine where you have to choose only a certain amount of processor power or RAM to use by the virtual machine, the linux subsystem would be able to use ALL the resources of the computer.

That is unusual and I wonder if it is Microsoft's attempt to take over Linux or at least co-opt it into the Microsoft Empire?

[ivar]

I think WSL's main merit may be for cross-platform developers..?

Also, according to the article below, MS admits that more and more virtual machines in Azure are running linux

https://www.linux.com/news/what-does-mi ... ean-linux/

[Portreve]

That is unusual and I wonder if it is Microsoft's attempt to take over Linux or at least co-opt it into the Microsoft Empire?

Like it or not, Microsoft is a major contributor at this point to the free software movement, both financially as well as on the code side of things.

That said, even though they are under different leadership than "in the olden days", I still don't trust them.

What we truly need are an Ed Snowden, Daniel Ellsberg, Woodward & Bernstein, and Noam Chomsky of the technology industry if we truly want to understand what's going on. And perhaps that's the point: there's always speculation a-plenty, but we're short on facts.

Google, so far as I know, is continuing development of their Linux kernel replacement Fuchsia. Honestly, I don't really trust them, either. Even if we were to accept as absolute fact that Google totally abides by their covenant "Don't be evil", there's a lot of evil which can still result from well-intended plans and those who would seek to exploit them to the utmost.

[ivar]

"Don't be evil" is long gone, replaced with "Do the right thing" from what I gather

[rambo919]

Yeah.... anyone that thinks conspiracies don't exist needs to re-read the M$ history.

That company seems to be the devil in a nice suit you are forced to do business with.

[rambo919]

"Don't be evil" is long gone, replaced with "Do the right thing" from what I gather

And who defines "the right thing"?

[rambo919]

I will gleefully admit my ignorance of WSL, does it mean that you can run Linux in a virtual machine on Windows? That is somewhat interesting, but how does it work in practice? I know that recently Windows Power Shell is attempting to give Windows a more Linux like experience where you can do more things in the terminal where before they made it really hard to do those things.

My understanding is that it's a way to run a version of linux in parallel with windows as a subsystem. Kinda like WINE for windows apps does but more intimately integrated.

[MurphCID]

That is unusual and I wonder if it is Microsoft's attempt to take over Linux or at least co-opt it into the Microsoft Empire?

Like it or not, Microsoft is a major contributor at this point to the free software movement, both financially as well as on the code side of things.

That said, even though they are under different leadership than "in the olden days", I still don't trust them.

What we truly need are an Ed Snowden, Daniel Ellsberg, Woodward & Bernstein, and Noam Chomsky of the technology industry if we truly want to understand what's going on. And perhaps that's the point: there's always speculation a-plenty, but we're short on facts.

Google, so far as I know, is continuing development of their Linux kernel replacement Fuchsia. Honestly, I don't really trust them, either. Even if we were to accept as absolute fact that Google totally abides by their covenant "Don't be evil", there's a lot of evil which can still result from well-intended plans and those who would seek to exploit them to the utmost.

The problem is that people like that always ended up getting co-opted by the system, and becoming part of the system eventually. Once they start taking $$$ they become part of it. Completely agree on Google, and also Microsoft.

[MurphCID]

I will gleefully admit my ignorance of WSL, does it mean that you can run Linux in a virtual machine on Windows? That is somewhat interesting, but how does it work in practice? I know that recently Windows Power Shell is attempting to give Windows a more Linux like experience where you can do more things in the terminal where before they made it really hard to do those things.

My understanding is that it's a way to run a version of linux in parallel with windows as a subsystem. Kinda like WINE for windows apps does but more intimately integrated.

I will not use it I suspect, but it is interesting, I might have to learn a little more on the whole WSL thing.

[ivar]

it can e.g be used for running your favorite linux apps/tools even when you have to run a windows computer

[rambo919]

It's main use is for server apps and testing I think.... but people have found all sorts of things to do with it.

Personally no I would not use it either.... can't think of anything I would use that does not have a windows version.