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They want you not to install Linux, but keep using Windows. That way, apart from using their OS, you may end up using the rest of Microsoft software: Edge, Offi

They want you not to install Linux, but keep using Windows. That way, apart from using their OS, you may end up using the rest of Microsoft software: Edge, Office, Outlook, OneDrive, etc. That wouldn't happen if you used Ubuntu. What I don't understand is why Canonical thought that shrinking their user base would be good for their business.

aruggirello 10y ago
In the long run, Canonical might have been the trojan horse Microsoft needed to demolish Linux from within. As developers, we're all enthusiasts of the WSL and how we don't need to dual boot, run VMs etc. any more. But in the process, we may end up giving less love to our once beloved DEs. This in turn creates a negative feedback for Linux desktop adoption. Also, less bare-metal installs means less bugs discovered and ironed out in the kernel too, less incentives for developers to release drivers, etc. so in the long run it's going to hurt Linux much more.
- funkymike 10y ago
  This can go the other way as well. If developers can target WSL and run on both Linux and Windows it increases their user base. This could end up making it easier for users to move away from Windows since one of the big hurdles is software compatibility.
  - WorldMaker 10y ago
    If it is a Trojan horse, it does seem to be a partnered one that works both ways. WSL is the easiest "Hey Developers, Try Ubuntu" experience Canonical could hope for. No virtual machines to wrestle, no boot CDs to awkwardly try to boot on machines that no longer have CD-ROMs: push a couple buttons, install an app.
nxc18 10y ago
This increases their user base. Every time you install WSL & Bash on Ubuntu on Windows, you are getting a full Ubuntu distribution. The only user base that shrinks is the Linux Kernel user base; Ubuntu and Linux are two separate concepts, and WSL demonstrates that they are in fact fully separable.
- filomeno 10y ago
  Well, I always thought Ubuntu was "Linux for human beings". It seems it's now "Bash for Windows users". I don't think this business model will last much longer, though ;-)
- JdeBP 10y ago
  As does UbuntuBSD, of course. * https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11415985 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11415985
WorldMaker 10y ago
Don't forget Visual Studio. Visual Studio debugging Linux applications via WSL is really cool.

aruggirello 10y ago

In the long run, Canonical might have been the trojan horse Microsoft needed to demolish Linux from within. As developers, we're all enthusiasts of the WSL and how we don't need to dual boot, run VMs etc. any more. But in the process, we may end up giving less love to our once beloved DEs. This in turn creates a negative feedback for Linux desktop adoption. Also, less bare-metal installs means less bugs discovered and ironed out in the kernel too, less incentives for developers to release drivers, etc. so in the long run it's going to hurt Linux much more.

funkymike 10y ago
This can go the other way as well. If developers can target WSL and run on both Linux and Windows it increases their user base. This could end up making it easier for users to move away from Windows since one of the big hurdles is software compatibility.
- WorldMaker 10y ago
  If it is a Trojan horse, it does seem to be a partnered one that works both ways. WSL is the easiest "Hey Developers, Try Ubuntu" experience Canonical could hope for. No virtual machines to wrestle, no boot CDs to awkwardly try to boot on machines that no longer have CD-ROMs: push a couple buttons, install an app.

nxc18 10y ago

This increases their user base. Every time you install WSL & Bash on Ubuntu on Windows, you are getting a full Ubuntu distribution. The only user base that shrinks is the Linux Kernel user base; Ubuntu and Linux are two separate concepts, and WSL demonstrates that they are in fact fully separable.

filomeno 10y ago
Well, I always thought Ubuntu was "Linux for human beings". It seems it's now "Bash for Windows users". I don't think this business model will last much longer, though ;-)
JdeBP 10y ago
As does UbuntuBSD, of course. * https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11415985 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11415985

WorldMaker 10y ago

Don't forget Visual Studio. Visual Studio debugging Linux applications via WSL is really cool.