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That is what it is - it's a compatibility layer to provide (a subset of) Linux kernel system calls on Windows, allowing the user to run ELF binaries as-is. The
by stephenr 9y ago
That is what it is - it's a compatibility layer to provide (a subset of) Linux kernel system calls on Windows, allowing the user to run ELF binaries as-is.
The problem is Microsoft's phrasing. They're calling the distros (eg ubuntu or suse) that can run on WSL sans Linux (as they use the NT kernel w/WSL) "Linux".
https://twitter.com/TechBandCamp/status/920733089948504064 https://twitter.com/TechBandCamp/status/920733089948504064
It's like saying "for our lactose intolerant customers we sell cheeseburgers without cheese".
- nolok 9y agoThat's because they need the public and marketing name to be understood not by the tech deciders who understands what it is and how it works, but by their boss. Said boss have very little idea what "kernel compatibility layer" or "running ELF binary as-is" means, but they do get "running linux".
- stephenr 9y agoThe announcement that includes the name change (from bash on Windows of all things) is pages long. They could have said "run a Linux Distribution" or "run Debian/RedHat/Centos". This is aimed at technical people, who should either know or be able to understand that Linux is the name of the kernel and is explicitly not part of this - WSL is (claimed to be) free of any Linux source.
- wvenable 9y agoMicrosoft is offering a Linux-compatible kernel. Calling any distribution "Linux" has a long history that pre-dates anything Microsoft has done.
- stephenr 9y agoBut they are usually called Linux Distributions - and then more specifically by their distro name.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]