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Ubuntu on Windows

(blog.dustinkirkland.com)
2049 points bpierre | 3 comments | 30 Mar 16 16:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.686s | source
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frozenport ◴[30 Mar 16 17:40 UTC] No.11391280[source]▶
I don't get it. What's the use case for a few core utilities running natively?
replies(4): >>11391338 #>>11391343 #>>11391653 #>>11391986 #
jdub ◴[30 Mar 16 17:46 UTC] No.11391343[source]▶
You can run any* Linux binary on WinLS, including apt-get in the Ubuntu rootfs.

* within the probably surprisingly broad limits of the WinLS syscall emulation, though it wouldn't support niche OS config stuff, SELinux calls, etc.

replies(1): >>11391830 #
pbhjpbhj ◴[30 Mar 16 18:43 UTC] No.11391830[source]▶
So I can install apt then install apps like Firefox, Thunderbird and run them that way instead of using Windows binaries? Interesting ...
replies(1): >>11392010 #
dagw ◴[30 Mar 16 19:04 UTC] No.11392010[source]▶
I haven't read anything that indicates that it will support GUI apps, but anything purely CLI based should work.
replies(1): >>11392454 #
1. JorgeGT ◴[30 Mar 16 19:59 UTC] No.11392454[source]▶
I wonder if these utilities can reach a locally-running X server?
replies(1): >>11394650 #
2. jdub ◴[31 Mar 16 02:44 UTC] No.11394650[source]▶
If nothing else, based on the capabilities demonstrated so far, you should (theoretically) be able to run local Linux X client apps to a Windows X server over localhost TCP. You'll miss out on a few optimisations available when using shared memory, but not much.
replies(1): >>11396154 #
3. JorgeGT ◴[31 Mar 16 10:41 UTC] No.11396154[source]▶
I just saw this demo video https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2016/P488?ocid=player where they demonstrate how the Ruby rack webserver runs flawlessly through the localhost address so it looks like you are totally correct. Awesome!