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I've always gotten by (both before and after WSL) with a Slackware install running under VirtualBox on a Windows host. It goes something like this: Install Vir

I've always gotten by (both before and after WSL) with a Slackware install running under VirtualBox on a Windows host. It goes something like this: Install VirtualBox, create a Linux VM instance and configure for at least 2GB RAM, 3D video acceleration, 128MB of video RAM, and at least 20GB of storage. DO NOT choose EFI or any other fancy/experimental features; the reason we're using Slackware is because it is dead simple and bulletproof in its default configuration, and doesn't need any of that mess. Install Slackware on the VM instance (I prefer Xfce desktop as it integrates well with Windows in Seamless mode but use what suits you if you find another is better). If using Xfce: Remove the bottom panel but keep the top panel, and configure it to your liking. If using KDE you may wish to move the bottom panel to the top edge. Install the Guest Additions for Linux. Activate Seamless mode, you'll find that your Linux desktop sits as a layer on your Windows desktop. If you use Xfce, your top panel will be at the top of the screen and will by default float behind any Windows-native windows. This allows you to keep both OSes running all the time and switch back and forth as necessary. Optional: Install the Numix GTK themes and Numix icon themes available from slackbuilds.org for a more Windows 10-esque look and feel in your Linux native apps. Again, the reason I use Slackware for this (besides my nearly two decades of familiarity with it) is because it is simple, stable, and stays out of the way. You don't need any experimental VM features; it's pretty much pure Linux. That said, something like Alpine or Arch may be more suitable depending on your workflow, and they both are also simple and VM-friendly distros. Alpine in particular is designed to integrate with VM and container setups with minimal fuss.

vram22 9y ago
Interesting, and thanks for the write-up about Slackware on VirtualBox on Windows. Can you do copy-and-paste between the Slackware in the VM and Windows, and can you do file / folder sharing? I might want to try to use Slackware based on your description. Update: Also, can you explain what you mean by this: >If you use Xfce, your top panel will be at the top of the screen and will by default float behind any Windows-native windows. This allows you to keep both OSes running all the time and switch back and forth as necessary. I use Ubuntu on VirtualBox on Windows and can already do the switching back and forth, but am not sure what you mean by "will by default float behind any Windows-native windows".
- morganvachon 9y ago
  > "Can you do copy-and-paste between the Slackware in the VM and Windows, and can you do file / folder sharing?" Yes, to the extent VirtualBox allows it. Make sure you have it turned on in the VM's settings and the Guest Additions are installed. > "am not sure what you mean by "will by default float behind any Windows-native windows"." Sorry, I just meant that the VM apps are treated like any other Windows object and aren't "always on top" or "always on bottom". Let's say you have the VM running as I described, and you open a Windows application. That application will be the "top" layer because it has focus; the VM won't override it. If you then click on the title bar of a Linux application, it gets pulled to the front and the virtualized app becomes the app with focus, along with the Xfce panel, but there's no opaque "desktop" layer blocking any Windows apps underneath it, as it would be if it weren't in Seamless mode. In short, it does what it says on the tin: Host and Guest apps work together seamlessly as if it were all one OS with one "desktop".
  - vram22 9y ago
    >Yes, to the extent VirtualBox allows it. Make sure you have it turned on in the VM's settings and the Guest Additions are installed. Great. >If you then click on the title bar of a Linux application, it gets pulled to the front and the virtualized app becomes the app with focus, along with the Xfce panel, but there's no opaque "desktop" layer blocking any Windows apps underneath it, as it would be if it weren't in Seamless mode. Got it now, thanks. That's a good feature.

vram22 9y ago

Interesting, and thanks for the write-up about Slackware on VirtualBox on Windows. Can you do copy-and-paste between the Slackware in the VM and Windows, and can you do file / folder sharing? I might want to try to use Slackware based on your description. Update: Also, can you explain what you mean by this: >If you use Xfce, your top panel will be at the top of the screen and will by default float behind any Windows-native windows. This allows you to keep both OSes running all the time and switch back and forth as necessary. I use Ubuntu on VirtualBox on Windows and can already do the switching back and forth, but am not sure what you mean by "will by default float behind any Windows-native windows".

morganvachon 9y ago
> "Can you do copy-and-paste between the Slackware in the VM and Windows, and can you do file / folder sharing?" Yes, to the extent VirtualBox allows it. Make sure you have it turned on in the VM's settings and the Guest Additions are installed. > "am not sure what you mean by "will by default float behind any Windows-native windows"." Sorry, I just meant that the VM apps are treated like any other Windows object and aren't "always on top" or "always on bottom". Let's say you have the VM running as I described, and you open a Windows application. That application will be the "top" layer because it has focus; the VM won't override it. If you then click on the title bar of a Linux application, it gets pulled to the front and the virtualized app becomes the app with focus, along with the Xfce panel, but there's no opaque "desktop" layer blocking any Windows apps underneath it, as it would be if it weren't in Seamless mode. In short, it does what it says on the tin: Host and Guest apps work together seamlessly as if it were all one OS with one "desktop".
- vram22 9y ago
  >Yes, to the extent VirtualBox allows it. Make sure you have it turned on in the VM's settings and the Guest Additions are installed. Great. >If you then click on the title bar of a Linux application, it gets pulled to the front and the virtualized app becomes the app with focus, along with the Xfce panel, but there's no opaque "desktop" layer blocking any Windows apps underneath it, as it would be if it weren't in Seamless mode. Got it now, thanks. That's a good feature.