In a continuous effort to bring Windows closer to the open source community, Microsoft has announced that it will be shipping a full Linux kernel directly in Windows 10. The new offering will reach Windows 10 users this summer, when Microsoft issues its next Windows Insiders build. Speaking about the new addition, Microsoft program manager Jack Hammons said the Linux kernel will underpin the latest version of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). “The kernel itself will initially be based on version 4.19, the latest long-term stable release of Linux. The kernel will be rebased at the designation of new long-term stable releases to ensure that the WSL kernel always has the latest Linux goodness,” he said. According to The Verge, this integration of Windows 10 with Linux will interface with a userspace installed through Windows Store, which the publication considers a ‘big shift’ for Microsoft. This “marks the first time that the Linux kernel will be included as part of Windows,” it says. Devs should expect considerable improvements in the performance of Microsoft’s Linux subsystem in Windows, once this implementation is complete. The company said it will regularly update this kernel. It will be completely open source, allowing devs to create their own WSL kernel and add changes. “This is the culmination of years of effort from the Linux Systems Group as well as multiple other teams across Microsoft,” Hammons concluded. “We are excited to be able to share the result and look forward to the new and interesting ways in which you will use WSL.” Image Source: Profit_Image / Shutterstock<doc-sep>Microsoft has announced something interesting for Windows 10 users that could mean buyers no longer need to decide between a Windows machine and a dedicated Linux machine like Dell's new Ubuntu workstations unveiled a few days ago. Microsoft has announced that starting with Windows 10 Insider Preview builds this summer it will include an in-house custom-built Linux kernel in the OS. That kernel will be used to underpin the newest version of the Windows Subsystem for Linux or WSL. This is the first time that a Linux kernel will be included as a component in Windows. Microsoft's Jack Hammons, program manager for Linux systems group, wrote that the term "Linux" is often used to refer to both the Linux kernel and the GNU userspace. Hammons notes that as with WSL1 and WSL2, Microsft will provide no userspace binaries with the new integrated Linux kernel. The Microsoft kernel will interface with userspace selected by the user normally added as an installation via the Windows Store. The userspace can also be sideloaded via a custom distribution package. The exception to that rule is a small init script injected to bootstrap the startup process to form the connections between Windows and Linux. Microsoft's kernel will be based on version 4.19, which Hammons says it the latest long-term stable release of Linux. He also notes that the kernel will be rebased at the designation of new long-term stable releases to be sure WSL is always on the latest Linux version. Microsoft adds that in addition to the LTS source from Kernel.org, several local patches are being applied to tune the binary for use in WSL2 by improving launch times, reducing memory footprint, and curating a minimal set of supported devices. Microsoft says that all changes go upstream, but it is possible that some patches with new features might only be included in future versions of the kernel and not be back-ported to the current LTS. The kernel Microsoft uses leverages its CI/CD system and is serviced through Windows Update in an operation transparent to the user. That means the kernel is up to date with new fixes and features in the latest stable branch of Linux. The kernel provided for WSL2 is fully open source. Instructions for creating a custom WSL kernel will be made available on Github when WSL2 is released in Insider Preview builds.<doc-sep>
Microsoft has surprised many in the Linux developer community in recent years. Surprises have included bringing things like the Bash shell to Windows, or native OpenSSH in Windows 10, and even including Ubuntu, SUSE Linux, and Fedora in the Windows Store. Microsoft is now going even further, with plans to ship a full Linux kernel directly in Windows 10. “Beginning with Windows Insiders builds this Summer, we will include an in-house custom-built Linux kernel to underpin the newest version of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL),” explains Microsoft program manager Jack Hammons. “The kernel itself will initially be based on version 4.19, the latest long-term stable release of Linux. The kernel will be rebased at the designation of new long-term stable releases to ensure that the WSL kernel always has the latest Linux goodness.” Microsoft’s integration of Linux in Windows 10 will interface with a userspace installed via the Windows Store. It’s a big shift for Microsoft, and marks the first time that the Linux kernel will be included as part of Windows. It sounds like this Linux kernel integration will be available later this year, with a Windows 10 update that’s codenamed 19H2. For developers it should dramatically improve the performance of Microsoft’s Linux subsystem in Windows. Microsoft is also promising to update this kernel through Windows Update, and it will be fully open source with the ability for developers to create their own WSL kernel and contribute changes. Microsoft also announced Windows Terminal today, a new command line app for Windows. It’s designed to be the central location for access to environments like PowerShell, Cmd, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).