WSL stand for Windows Subsystem Linux. It allow us to get the best of both Linux and Windows world…

Get Started

Of course, As admin inside a powershell terminal :

# Update your WSL first
wsl --update

# Install the distrib you want
wsl --install -d Ubuntu

# Distrib you have to your disposition
wsl --list --online

# List all WSL installed
wsl --list
wsl --list -v

# if needed to reinstall 
wsl --shutdown
wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Windows Terminal

WSL is your Linux VM on windows, you can also use Windows Terminal for your own confort.

Here some shortcut in Windows Terminal but not only 😉 :

  • alt + enter : mode full ecran
  • ctrl shift t : terminal
  • ctrl shift n : new windows
  • ctrl alt 1 2 3 : changer de fenetre
  • Windows + v : see the paste buffer
  • Alt Shift = : split vertical
  • Alt shit - : split horizontal
  • Alt arrow : to change panel
  • Alt shit arrow : resize panel
  • code . : open VSCode from your current directory

Free some space on your WSL

  • checks which directory contains the most data:
du -h --max-depth 1

  • Activate Hyper-V module in windows features:

    Inside the control-panel -> Turn windows features on or off -> activate Hyper-v -> restart.
    This is required to activate optimize-vhd command.

  • Let’s shrink - As admin in powershell:

wsl --shutdown

#Find ext4.vhdx in \Users\USER\AppData\Local\Packages\
optimize-vhd -Path C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Packages\AlmaLinuxOSFoundation.AlmaLinux8WSL_xxxxxxxxxxxxxx\LocalState\ext4.vhdx -Mode full

Export/Import your WSL

wsl --export AlmaLinux-8 AlmaLinux-8-full.tar.gz
wsl --import AlmaLinux8-full C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Packages\Alma8-full .\AlmaLinux-8-full.tar
wsl -d AlmaLinux8-full -u <USER> -s
wsl --unregister AlmaLinux8-full

wsl --list -v