Over the years, Microsoft has carried out several Linux projects of its own. There was a Linux-based OS for network switches in data centers and a Linux-based OS for microcontrollers built for the Azure Sphere Embedded Security Service. And now it has become known about another project based on Linux, which Microsoft specialists have been working on for some time.
On the first day of the Build 2019 developer conference, the software giant announced the creation of its own version of the Linux kernel, which will be part of Windows 10. The first test builds for members of the Insider program will be released at the end of June. This core will provide the basis for the architecture . how Microsoft representatives in their blog, this is the first time that a full-fledged Linux kernel will become a built-in component of Windows.
Recall: WSL 1 was a compatibility layer, essentially an emulator, for executing Linux binaries (ELF) in the environment of the Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 operating systems. Windows 10, and include Ubuntu, SUSE Linux, and Fedora distributions in the Microsoft Store.
The arrival of a full-fledged open OS kernel in WSL 2 will improve compatibility, significantly improve the performance of Linux applications on Windows, speed up boot times, optimize memory usage, speed up file system I/O, and run Docker containers directly instead of through a virtual machine.
The actual performance gain will depend on the application in question and how it interacts with the file system. Microsoft internal tests show that WSL 2 is 20 times faster than WSL 1 when unpacking tarballs, and about 2 to 5 times faster when using git clone, npm install, and cmake on various projects.
The Microsoft Linux kernel will initially be based on the latest long-term stable version 4.19 used by the company and technologies leveraged by Azure cloud services. According to Microsoft officials, the kernel will be completely open: that is, any changes Microsoft makes will be made available to the Linux developer community. The company also promises that with the release of the next long-term stable version of the kernel, the version for WSL 2 will also be updated so that developers always have access to the latest Linux innovations.
WSL 2 will still not include any userspace binaries, as is the case with the current version of WSL 1. Users will still be able to choose which Linux distribution suits them best by downloading it from both the Microsoft Store and from other sources.
At the same time, Microsoft introduced a powerful new command line application for Windows 10 called Windows Terminal. It includes tabs, shortcuts, text emoticons, supports themes, extensions, and GPU-based text rendering. The application is designed to access environments such as PowerShell, Cmd, and WSL. This is another move by Microsoft to make it easier for developers to interact with Windows 10. Windows Terminal Preview as a repository on GitHub, and the appearance in the Microsoft Store is promised in mid-June.