# Ubuntu WSL

Benefit from the unrivalled developer experience of Ubuntu without leaving
Windows.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment
on Windows. The Ubuntu distribution for WSL is tightly integrated with the
Windows OS, supporting remote development from popular IDEs, cross-OS file
management and seamless local testing of web applications. Ubuntu WSL provides
a high-quality command line interface that is also suitable for launching
Linux-native graphical applications.

Ubuntu WSL can be used to build projects in a performant Linux environment
without the overhead of traditional virtual machine or dual-boot setups.
Organisations that manage a Microsoft infrastructure can empower developers who
prefer a Linux-based workflow. With [Ubuntu Pro for WSL](explanations/up4w), large
fleets of Ubuntu WSL machines can also be administered with ease and security.

Ubuntu WSL is for the programmer who wants a fully-featured Linux development
environment but must use a Windows device, the system administrator who
requires a secure way of supporting Linux on hundreds of Windows machines, and
the cross-platform app developer who needs to create projects that work on
Linux, Windows and the browser.

## In this documentation

````{grid} 1 1 2 2

```{grid-item-card} [Tutorials](tutorials/index)

**Start here** with hands-on tutorials for new users to learn Ubuntu WSL
```

```{grid-item-card} [How-to guides](guides/index)

**Follow step-by-step** instructions for performing common tasks with Ubuntu WSL, including making your own contributions to the project
```

````

````{grid} 1 1 2 2
:reverse:

```{grid-item-card} [Reference](reference/index)

**Read technical descriptions** of important factual information relating to Ubuntu WSL
```

```{grid-item-card} [Explanations](explanations/index)

**Read explanatory notes** on important concepts
```

````

## Project and community

Ubuntu WSL and Ubuntu Pro for WSL are members of the Ubuntu family. These are open-source projects that warmly welcome community contributions, suggestions, fixes and constructive feedback. Check out our [contribution page](guides/contributing) for guidelines on how best to bring your ideas, bug reports and more.

```{important}
We do not directly maintain WSL, which is a Microsoft product.
If you have identified a problem or bug in WSL then submit an Issue in
[Microsoft's WSL project repository](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/).

```

- [Code of Conduct](https://ubuntu.com/community/ethos/code-of-conduct)
- [Contribute to the project](guides/contributing)
- [Ask and answer questions on the forum](https://discourse.ubuntu.com/c/wsl/27)


```{toctree}
:hidden:
:titlesonly:

self
tutorials/index
guides/index
reference/index
explanations/index
```