[Windows 10] Install, Beautify WSL and My Personal Review

[Preface]

~~Long-lost update~~

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is one of the key features developed by Microsoft recently. Simply put, you can run a Linux environment on Windows, but unlike using a Virtual Box or VMware, which is a virtual environment. Basically, you can execute any command, install any package on WSL. It seems like a little bit superfluous, but we have to admit that sometimes it is more convenient/efficient to execute some things on Linux. Furthermore, you can get a gorgeous Terminal, no matter open directly or in VS Code.

However, WSL is not a real Linux after all, and there are bound to be some disadvantages. In the following, I will provide some pros and cons and some points of view in my personal use, and instruction on how to install it, use it, and beautify it.

[Pros & Cons]

Pros:

Beautiful Terminal with lots icons, able to use zsh for sure!
Execute most of the Linux commands, no more suffering from ifconfig and ipconfig [*1]
Developed by Microsoft. Great compatibility
Working well with VS Code, also supports Debug mode
Able to access files from two systems (Windows and WSL)

Cons:

Poor performance. Still recommend to run a heavy program on a real OS
If you're using WSL 2, it will cause some issues of other program, such as Android emulator.
if you're using Hamachi, it will cause some connection issues on WSL.

To me, these cons are not a real problem. Basically can be fixed or avoided. However, the two problems with underscore should be more considered. If you need to use a emulator to run a idle game, play a mobile game on PC, or need a LAN service to play game with you friends, think more about it.

[*1]

Starting from Windows10, basically cmd has been replaced by Power Shell. Some Linux commands can be used in PS, e.g. cd.

[Requirement]

Latest version of Windows 10, or at least 1903 build.
Microsoft store
Knowledge of debugging

Note that WSL is not a basic feature of Windows 10. To install the WSL, especially WSL 2, you need to turn on some features. And these features are not turned on by default. It may lead some programs not functional. Be sure you are able to deal with these problems or recover to the normal Windows.

[WSL 1? or WSL 2?]

Essentially, I think the fastest way to distinguish which version you should use is:

Do you need to execute other programs that using virtualization features, e.g. VMware, Android emulator ?

Microsoft has improved performance on WSL 2, especially file system (I/O). However, to run WSL 2, you need to turn on Hyper-V. It will make your virtual machine not working.

Personally, I don't feel the performance has a huge improvement on WSL 2. So, I decide to sacrifice performance in exchange for better compatibility.

You can check the official docs for more information.

Comparing WSL 1 and WSL 2 | Microsoft Docs

[Step by Step]

Here will be divided into several parts, which are WSL 1, WSL 2, and Beautify. Jump to any section you are interested in by the title. All the commands are executed under Power Shell. To get more details, click the like below, which is an official installation guide.

Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs

WSL 1

Enable WSL feature

$ dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Open Microsoft Store, choose a Linux version you like

Set up username and password

Done!

WSL 2

Enable WSL feature

$ dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Enable Virtual Machine Platform feature

$ dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Download Linux kernel update package and install it.

WSL2 Linux kernel update package for x64 machines

Set default version of WSL

$ wsl --set-default-version 2

Open Microsoft Store, choose a Linux version you like

Set up username and password

(Same as WSL 1)

Done!

Beautify

After the above steps, you WSL should be execute well. Next, we are going to install zsh and Powerlevel10K to beautify it. Before starting, I strongly recommend installing Windows Terminal (yes, it’s called Terminal..). Easy to use, and work great. You can download it from Microsoft Store. Of course you can use your favorite terminal software. But I will use Terminal to do the demonstration.

Edit Terminal Setting

Click arrow > Setting

Scroll down a little bit (in the list tag), you can see the default Terminal type when you open a new Terminal.

Copy the guid from WSL to defaultProfile, then next time, it will open WSL automatically.

Edit the font

Powerlevel10k recommend using MesloLGS NF.

Edit fontFace to MesloLGS NF

Change themes

Next, let's change a theme, AKA colorScheme. You can choose any themes from this like:

Windows Terminal Themes

Or the built-in theme:

Windows Terminal Color Schemes | Microsoft Docs

If you are using the theme from the first link, you will get something like this:

{
"name": "OneHalfDark",
"black": "#282c34",
"red": "#e06c75",
"green": "#98c379",
"yellow": "#e5c07b",
"blue": "#61afef",
"purple": "#c678dd",
"cyan": "#56b6c2",
"white": "#dcdfe4",
"brightBlack": "#282c34",
"brightRed": "#e06c75",
"brightGreen": "#98c379",
"brightYellow": "#e5c07b",
"brightBlue": "#61afef",
"brightPurple": "#c678dd",
"brightCyan": "#56b6c2",
"brightWhite": "#dcdfe4",
"background": "#282c34",
"foreground": "#dcdfe4"
}

Copy them into the schemes section.

This is json format, don't forget to check the comma or parentheses!

Terminal settings come to an end!

Install zsh and Powerlevel10k (run in the WSL)

Install zsh

$ sudo apt install zsh
$ sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

After installing done, re-open a Terminal

Install dependency packages

$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
$ git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting
$ git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k.git ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/themes/powerlevel10k

Set up package

open ~/.zshrc , find the following line and edit it as:

# Use Powerlevel10k theme
ZSH_THEME="powerlevel10k/powerlevel10k"
.
.
.
# Use plugins
plugins=(zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)
// you can install any plug-in if needed