Fedora 42 WSL Image Approved for Use in Windows Subsystem for Linux
Fedora 42 WSL Image Approved for Use in Windows Subsystem for Linux
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Fedora 42 WSL Image Approved for Use in Windows Subsystem for Linux
The Fedora Engineering and Steering Committee (FESCo) has approved a proposal to deliver Fedora Linux images specifically designed for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
This aims to enhance the experience for users who want to run Fedora on the WSL2 environment within Microsoft Windows 11.
The proposal does not involve adding Fedora to the Windows Store as a supported Linux distribution. Instead, it focuses on creating Fedora Linux WSL compressed packages that users can manually load. While this approach is less streamlined than direct availability in the Windows Store, it represents a significant improvement over the current situation. The proposal explains:
“Recent versions of Windows support running Linux distributions via the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). These distributions can be delivered through compressed packages, Appx packages, or the Windows Store. However, distribution through the Windows Store requires compliance with store policies and developer agreements—something Fedora has traditionally avoided. This proposal suggests distributing Fedora as compressed packages instead. With WSL version 2.4.4 and above, the experience of using non-store WSL images has been significantly enhanced. Notably, these improvements allow initial setup scripts and icons to be distributed as part of the compressed package rather than as a standalone Windows app. Additionally, compressed packages with the ‘.wsl’ file extension now support one-click installation. As a result, this proposal is optimized for WSL 2.4.4 and newer versions, though documentation will be provided for users of older versions.”
By offering a dedicated Fedora WSL image, the initiative aims to make it easier for Windows users to explore the Fedora environment. It is hoped that those who decide to transition to a bare-metal Linux installation in the future will be more inclined to choose Fedora as their preferred distribution.
FESCo has approved the proposal, and additional details about Fedora 42 WSL plans are available on the Fedora Wiki.
