If you want to run Linux and Windows 10 or 11, you’re probably deciding whether to set up a dual-boot system or install a distribution using Windows Subsystem for Linux, or WSL. Here are some reasons you might want to go with WSL.

1 Availability of WSL Software

One reason to install WSL is to get access to the wide variety of software available for Linux. Windows has had a tradition of freeware and shareware going back to the days of MS-DOS. The availability of open-source software available in Linux distribution package managers under WSL will allow you to install even more apps.

Sure, a lot of open-source apps have native Windows ports, but a lot of them still work better on Linux, and plenty aren’t available on Windows at all.

A possible “killer feature” of Linux is package management, where it’s easy to install and update software in one place. This is an idea that Windows is only starting to implement with the Microsoft Store and win-get. With Linux, you can install all sorts of apps using WSL, including editors, browsers, text management tools, and even games.

2 It’s Easier to Code in WSL

While it’s possible to program in Windows, a lot of tools are written by and for Unix and Linux developers. They tend to assume a Unix-like environment. This can both make it difficult to get certain programming tools to work correctly and to follow along with programming tutorials.

If you go into a forum or IRC channel and say you’re having a problem getting something to work, the people there are most likely going to tell you that the problem is you’re using Windows.

Not only can you install many Linux programming tools like editors, compilers, interpreters, and debuggers on Linux using WSL, you’ll spend less time trying to get them to run or running into issues like different command paths and directory structures. If you’ve always wanted to learn to code, Linux is the best place to start, and using WSL will help flatten the learning curve.

3 You Don’t Have to Reboot

One reason to use WSL rather than dual-boot is that you can switch between Windows and Linux programs without rebooting.

When I used to rely on dual-booting, I would sometimes have an idea for something I wanted to try in the terminal when surfing the web or playing a game. I would have to shut down Windows and wait to reboot into Linux. By the time the Linux terminal came up, my inspiriation was gone. With WSL, I can act on my ideas immediately.

4 You Can Mix and Match Windows and Linux Commands

One great feature of WSL is the ability to mix and match the Windows and Linux environments. This means you can use mainstream software while accessing the powerful Linux toolkit.

You can run Windows commands in the Linux terminal and Linux commands in PowerShell. This lets you use whatever tools you prefer for the right job.

You can even use Bash scripts to automate Windows tasks if you want. Linux shell programming is often easier to comprehend than PowerShell because of the simplicity of pipelines compared to PowerShell’s complex object orientation.

You can also access Windows files from Linux and Linux files from Windows. You can’t do this easily with a dual-boot system.

5 It’s Easy to Learn Linux in a Familiar Environment

If you have no experience with Linux or Unix-like operating systems, learning a completely new operating system can be a daunting challenge. You not only have to install a new operating system, but navigate an unfamiliar environment. As pleasant as modern Linux desktops are to use, some users might balk at leaving an environment they know, even if it’s only a reboot away.

With WSL, you can try out the Linux command-line environment to see how much you like it. You can keep your familiar desktop environment. As soon as you get comfortable in the shell, you can start to explore Linux fully in a dual-boot or virtual machine.