How To Get Bash On Windows

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After many, many years of wishing there were more Linux utilities within Windows (native SSH anyone?), Microsoft have finally developed what they call their "Windows subsystem for Linux" – what many are referring to as the equivalent of Wine for Linux.

Utilising this subsystem, Microsoft have worked with Canonical to provide a bare-bones Ubuntu surround accessible through Bash. They call information technology "Bash on Ubuntu on Windows" and it absolutely rolls off the tongue.

Although tools like Cygwin have been around far longer than I've worked in IT, they don't offer the integration Bash on Ubuntu on Windows (henceforth referred to as Bash) aims to provide; ane of those chief integrations being the capability for direct access to and manipulation of files and folders on the Windows partitioning.

Similarly, every bit this basic Ubuntu prototype is installed into a directory equally any other program would be, it's only as easy to dispense files and folders within the directories in that location, too.

I re-enrolled onto the Insider Preview fast ring to check it out and later on enabling developer mode, took a rough-and-gear up video of my desktop as I enabled Fustigate. Unfortunately that didn't plough out as well well, so today I decided to do the installation again on a fresh VMware prototype, and then edited it upwards nicely and popped a vocalism-over on elevation:

NB: The error which showed up towards the finish meant there was no Start entry for Bash (it'south a preview, and then I guess these things happen) but running Bash from the command line will launch information technology in the same style regardless.

Should y'all non be able (or wish) to view the video, the steps to enable Bash are documented below.

Enable the new Bash on Ubuntu on Windows

1 – Right click on the Outset icon and select Programs and Features.

2 – Click Turn Windows features on or off.

3 – Scroll down to the new Windows subsystem for Linux and tick information technology, click OK.

4 – Await for it to apply and reboot when prompted.

5 – Once the reboot is consummate, login and open the command prompt. Type fustigateand hit Enter.

vi – Typey to confirm yous're happy to proceed.

.. wait ages ..

7 – When consummate information technology'll pop you directly into bash.

That's all at that place is to it!

Following this, you can admission bash either by typing "bash" in the command prompt, or opening the new "Bash on Ubuntu on Windows" app in your apps listing (providing the installation doesn't error similar mine did!).

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Are yous excited for Bash on Windows 10? Accept yous already enabled it?
Did you enjoy the video? Would y'all like to run into more in the future?

Leave me a comment or tweet me @jasonbayton with your thoughts.

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