Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be

From	Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.misc
Subject	Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be
Date	2026-07-05 13:55 +0000
Organization	Deepwoods Software
Message-ID	<112dnpb$1494h$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	<nat1csF3l9vU2@mid.individual.net> <112c6uq$k25o$8@dont-email.me> <112djde$12pfm$1@dont-email.me> <nav3icFdqp7U4@mid.individual.net>

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At Sun, 5 Jul 2026 15:12:44 +0200 "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> 
> On 2026-07-05 14:41, Robert Heller wrote:
> > At Sun, 5 Jul 2026 13:35:57 +0200 "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> > 
> >>
> >> On 2026-07-05 02:02, Lawrence DÃÂ¢Ãâ¬Ãâ¢Oliveiro wrote:
> >>> On Sat, 4 Jul 2026 18:41:39 -0000 (UTC), Robert Heller wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>> <https://www.xda-developers.com/wsl-keeps-getting-better-and-its-because-microsoft-is-finally-admitting-where-developers-want-to-be/>
> >>>>>
> >>>> It is also *probably* too little too late.
> >>>
> >>> Quote:
> >>>
> >>>       ... Microsoft really does need to make its OS comfortable for
> >>>       Linux developers to work in, because the alternative involves
> >>>       people ditching Windows entirely. For Microsoft to maintain its
> >>>       user base, it has to ensure that its operating system can do
> >>>       everything better than its competitors, and if that includes
> >>>       allowing people to code Linux apps instead of using its own tools,
> >>>       then that's what it needs to do.
> >>>
> >>> But if what its operating system is supposedly "doing better than
> >>> competitors" is "running a Linux stack", then pretty much by
> >>> definition, native Linux itself will always do that better than any
> >>> Windows-with-Linux-bag-hanging-off-the-side two-headed FrankenOS can
> >>> manage.
> >>
> >> Unless the user needs one of those applications that only exist for
> >> Windows. For instance, some tax software for the USA.
> > 
> > Wondering if Microsoft is looking to do what Apple did with MacOSX -- move
> > from their own propriatory kernel to an open source kernel (and base O/S
> > infrastructure) with a propriatory GUI layer on top...
> > 
> > The only "weirdness" (to me) about the WSL is why? Is microsoft trying to
> > entice Linux user (partitularly developers) away from Linux? The WSL is not
> > going to appeal to the "typical" MS-Windows user (or if the "typical"
> > MS-Windows user starts using the WSL, they might decide to just install Linux
> > and move on. Developers already on Linux are not going to install MS-Windows
> > just to use WSL. And no, doing that just to build MS-Windows versions of Linux
> > programs is not really a reason -- there exist tools to cross-build on Linux
> > targeting MS-Windows.
> 
> Can they build applications that run on the WSL transparently? Just 
> click an icon on the desktop or a menu entry, and it fires away? Those 
> same applications could also run on Linux proper.

It depends on the program load infrastructure.  Eg is WSL on MS-Windows like 
WINE on Linux?  (Does WSL provide a system call wrapper library?)  Does the 
build tools under WSL produce Linux ELF binaries or native MS-Windows binaries 
(which is what the mingwin toolchain running under linux produces).  It would 
of course be true that the WSL application *source code* would also build on a 
Linux machine and then run under Linux,

Note: almost any non-GUI Linux utility will compile and run under MacOS,
depending on the level of its dependency on specific O/S features and
libraries. Actually any classic C program that just uses the base STDIO
library will compile on Linux, MacOSX, and even MS-Windows (without any need
for WSL). The produced *binaries* are of cource not "portable".



> 

-- 
Robert Heller             -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
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Thread

WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-04 18:23 +0000
  Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2026-07-04 18:41 +0000
    Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-05 00:36 +0100
      Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-07-05 01:31 -0400
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-07-05 18:07 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-05 18:15 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:11 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-06 00:54 +0100
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:08 +0000
    Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-05 00:02 +0000
      Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-07-05 02:00 -0400
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:17 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-06 00:30 +0000
            Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-06 12:42 +0100
      Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-05 13:35 +0200
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2026-07-05 12:41 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-05 15:12 +0200
            Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> - 2026-07-05 13:55 +0000
              Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-05 15:11 +0100
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-05 18:49 +0000
              Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally?? admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-05 23:42 +0000
            Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-05 18:47 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-05 18:39 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-06 00:44 +0100
            Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-07-06 17:50 +0000
              Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-06 21:11 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-07-06 21:54 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-07 00:25 +0000
              Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 08:57 +0100
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-07 17:26 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally? admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 20:14 +0100
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-05 21:47 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-06 13:10 +0200
            Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-06 21:13 +0000
              Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-06 23:57 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-07 00:22 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-07 08:27 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-07 06:54 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-07 10:59 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-08 00:47 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-08 12:00 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-08 23:12 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-09 09:11 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-09 07:28 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-09 09:40 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-09 07:47 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-07-09 09:53 +0200
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-07-09 08:56 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-09 11:49 +0100
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-09 18:38 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-10 05:10 +0100
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-07-10 16:18 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-09 18:35 +0000
                Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be dillinger <dillinger@not.invalid> - 2026-07-09 09:37 +0200
  Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-07-06 09:33 -0700
    Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-06 18:59 +0000
      Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-07-06 12:43 -0700
        Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-07-06 21:54 +0000
          Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-07-07 03:41 +0000
      Re: WSL keeps getting better, and it's because Microsoft is finally admitting where developers want to be The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 09:02 +0100

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