Microsoft Brings the Linux Command Line to Windows
Windows users will soon have native access to the Bash shell.
At the Build 2016 developer conference in San Francisco, Microsoft announced that Ubuntu's version of the classic Bash shell will soon be coming to Windows 10. Bash support on Windows will allow developers to run Linux command-line tools and utilities natively on the Windows platform.
Microsoft's Mike Harsh explains in a blog post, "...we built new infrastructure within Windows -- the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) -- upon which we run a genuine Ubuntu user-mode image provided by our great partners over at Canonical, creators of Ubuntu Linux."
Canonical created an image of Ubuntu, without the Linux kernel, to run Ubuntu user mode on WSL. As a result of this work, users can simply type bash in the Start menu of Windows 10, and the system will open the Bash shell in the Windows command prompt console.
Developers can now use Windows to run Bash scripts, as well as command-line tools like ssh, rsync, wget, sed, awk, grep and many more. You can install new command-line tools or utilities just by running apt-get in the Bash shell. Developers will also be able to access the filesystems for Ubuntu and Windows directly from the Bash shell and work on files using Linux command-line tools. Support for running command-line Ubuntu applications in Windows will arrive with the next major update, codenamed Redstone 1, slated for release this summer.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.
-
Zorin OS 18 Beta Available for Testing
The latest release from the team behind Zorin OS is ready for public testing, and it includes plenty of improvements to make it more powerful, user-friendly, and productive.
-
Fedora Linux 43 Beta Now Available for Testing
Fedora Linux 43 Beta ships with Gnome 49 and KDE Plasma 6.4 (and other goodies).
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.