VS Code and WSL can achieve a Linux development experience on Windows. 1. First make sure that the system supports and installs WSL, run wsl --install to install the default distribution; 2. Create an account and choose to install distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian or Kali; 3. Install VS Code and add the "Remote - WSL" plug-in; 4. Open the WSL environment through the command panel, edit files and run debugging based on the Linux toolchain; 5. Note that the path is in Linux format, the project is stored in the WSL directory, the synchronization editor settings, and adapt to the debug configuration file. As long as the initial setup is correct, you can use the Linux development environment on Windows efficiently.

If you are used to the Windows desktop environment but want to use the Linux development toolchain, then VS Code with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is a very practical combination. It allows you to write code on Windows, but you can use a real Linux environment to run, debug and build projects.

Installation basic environment

First of all, you have to make sure your system supports WSL and install relevant components.

• If WSL is not installed, you can run wsl --install in PowerShell to enable and install the default Linux distribution (usually Ubuntu).
• After the installation is complete, you will be booted to create a user account and password, and then you can use Linux commands on the command line.
• It is recommended to install a distribution you like, such as Ubuntu, Debian or Kali, which can be downloaded and installed through the Microsoft Store.

VS Code itself also needs to install the official plugin "Remote - WSL", which is the key to connecting to WSL. After installation, restart VS Code and you can use it.

Open a WSL environment in VS Code

After installing the plug-in, you can enter the WSL environment by:

1. Open VS Code, press Ctrl Shift P to bring up the command panel;
2. Enter "Remote-WSL: New Window" or "Remote-WSL: Reopen Folder in WSL" and select the directory you want to operate;
3. Wait for a few seconds, VS Code will automatically connect to WSL and display the file structure in the current Linux environment.

You will find that the status bar in the lower left corner turns green and displays a prompt like "WSL: Ubuntu", indicating that you are already working in the WSL environment.

In this environment, running terminals, debugging programs, and using Git are all based on Linux, and the compilation tool chain also directly calls the version in WSL.

Tips on development experience

• Note : When accessing Windows file system in WSL, the path is /mnt/c/... , otherwise it is not well compatible. It is recommended to place the project in the WSL home directory to avoid permission and performance issues.
• Editor Font and Theme Unification : If you are used to customizing the appearance of VS Code, remember to synchronize the settings in WSL mode, otherwise you may see the default theme, which will affect the user experience.
• Debugging configuration needs to be adapted : If you are debugging a C/C program, it is best to use Linux format for the paths in the launch.json and tasks.json files, otherwise the executable file will not be found.

Another small detail is that for the first time, VS Code will automatically download the corresponding server components to the Linux environment in WSL mode, and may have to wait for a while.

Not complicated but easy to ignore

In general, the process of VS Code combined with WSL is not complicated, but if you are not careful in some places, it will affect efficiency, such as path processing, plug-in installation, debugging and configuration. Just set these up at the beginning and you can enjoy the Linux development experience on Windows smoothly.

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