Windows has evolved significantly as a development platform in recent years, thanks primarily to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and other enhancements. However, to fully utilize its potential for software development, a few setup steps are necessary.
To harness the power of Linux within Windows, install WSL, which provides a Linux environment without the overhead of a virtual machine. To do so, open an elevated command prompt and enter:
wsl --installThis command will set up the default Linux distribution, which is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, although others can be installed.
Instead of the standard NTFS file system, consider using a Dev Drive created with the Resilient File System (ReFS). This offers advantages such as improved backup efficiency with copy-on-write features and optimized antivirus behavior. It’s important to note that Dev Drives are meant for storing project files and not development tools.
WinGet has emerged as a robust package manager for Windows, enabling efficient installation of software across a variety of development tools. Use the following command to search for packages:
winget search "Package name"And to install, use:
winget install <package_id>To allow local scripts to run on your system, alter the PowerShell execution policy. Run the following command in an elevated PowerShell:
set-executionpolicy remotesignedUsing WinGet simplifies the installation of essential development tools. Here are a few must-haves with their respective package IDs:
Git.GitMicrosoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildToolsKitware.CmakeMicrosoft.VisualStudioCodeFor those looking for a straightforward setup, Microsoft provides Windows Developer Config scripts that can quickly configure your system for development using a range of pre-defined setups.
For more details on using WSL, Dev Drives, or WinGet, you can consult the relevant Microsoft documentation.
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