Microsoft Brings the Linux Command Line to Windows
Windows users will soon have native access to the Bash shell.
At the Build 2016 developer conference in San Francisco, Microsoft announced that Ubuntu's version of the classic Bash shell will soon be coming to Windows 10. Bash support on Windows will allow developers to run Linux command-line tools and utilities natively on the Windows platform.
Microsoft's Mike Harsh explains in a blog post, "...we built new infrastructure within Windows -- the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) -- upon which we run a genuine Ubuntu user-mode image provided by our great partners over at Canonical, creators of Ubuntu Linux."
Canonical created an image of Ubuntu, without the Linux kernel, to run Ubuntu user mode on WSL. As a result of this work, users can simply type bash in the Start menu of Windows 10, and the system will open the Bash shell in the Windows command prompt console.
Developers can now use Windows to run Bash scripts, as well as command-line tools like ssh, rsync, wget, sed, awk, grep and many more. You can install new command-line tools or utilities just by running apt-get in the Bash shell. Developers will also be able to access the filesystems for Ubuntu and Windows directly from the Bash shell and work on files using Linux command-line tools. Support for running command-line Ubuntu applications in Windows will arrive with the next major update, codenamed Redstone 1, slated for release this summer.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Xubuntu Site Possibly Hacked
It appears that the Xubuntu site was hacked and briefly served up a malicious ZIP file from its download page.
-
LMDE 7 Now Available
Linux Mint Debian Edition, version 7, has been officially released and is based on upstream Debian.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Reaches EOL
Linux kernel 6.16 has reached its end of life, which means you'll need to upgrade to the next stable release, Linux kernel 6.17.
-
Amazon Ditches Android for a Linux-Based OS
Amazon has migrated from Android to the Linux-based Vega OS for its Fire TV.
-
Cairo Dock 3.6 Now Available for More Compositors
If you're a fan of third-party desktop docks, then the latest release of Cairo Dock with Wayland support is for you.
-
System76 Unleashes Pop!_OS 24.04 Beta
System76's first beta of Pop!_OS 24.04 is an impressive feat.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.
-
Zorin OS 18 Beta Available for Testing
The latest release from the team behind Zorin OS is ready for public testing, and it includes plenty of improvements to make it more powerful, user-friendly, and productive.
-
Fedora Linux 43 Beta Now Available for Testing
Fedora Linux 43 Beta ships with Gnome 49 and KDE Plasma 6.4 (and other goodies).