I wish to work on Linux, but the only machine l have at my disposal is my brother’s windows laptop when it’s free. Can I create a virtual Linux system using QEMU ?

  • Denys Nykula@piefed.socialEnglish
    3·
    1 month ago

    WSL is the name of the tool, it installs an Ubuntu virtual machine that integrates with Windows in a way that you don’t have to care about disk sizes, shared folders or remote access. It gives you an Ubuntu bash window after a few minutes of automatic downloading. Under WSL, I do run both vim and ffmpeg OK. You can install most packages you want like on a full Ubuntu installation.

      • Denys Nykula@piefed.socialEnglish
        4·
        1 month ago

        While I don’t know whether MX Linux supports WSL (just a few distributions do), I know that MX is based on Debian, and you can install Debian under WSL with wsl --install -d Debian. Their console experience is very similar.

      • Denys Nykula@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        You can install a terminal multiplexer: sudo apt-get install byobu - and launch it: byobu, then follow the instructions on how to use multiple CLI apps at the same time. For example, install zsh, vim, ffmpeg and other console programs you wanted, and launch them in multiple byobu tabs. If you want to install a desktop application, you can do that with apt-get as well, and WSL will create a shortcut in your Windows start menu. Basically, you work on your Windows desktop and use GNU/Linux apps at the same time.