4 Ways to use Linux on a Windows Machine
Tags: linux, windows, tutorial
Published: 2023-06-13 19:27:15


As a developer, the choice of operating systems depends on the specific requirements of your projects and the target platforms you're working with. Both Windows and Linux are widely used in the development community, and each has its own strengths and use cases. In some cases, you may need to work with both Windows and Linux. For example, if you're developing cross-platform applications or server-side software that needs to run on Linux servers, it can be helpful to have access to both operating systems for testing and debugging purposes.



In this article, we will explore several methods for using Linux on a Windows machine, including options that are browser-based or cloud-based, eliminating the need for prior installation.


### Here are the methods we'll be discussing:

1. Dual Boot
2. Virtualization
3. Containerization
4. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

---

#### Option: Dual Boot

Dual booting is a method that allows you to install and run multiple operating systems on one computer. It involves partitioning your hard drive, installing Linux on a separate partition, and configuring a boot loader to choose the operating system at startup. This enables you to switch between Windows and Linux when you start your computer. Remember to back up your data before partitioning, choose a Linux distribution, create a bootable USB or DVD, install Linux on the designated partition, and configure the boot loader. Here is a good link on the subject: https://opensource.com/article/18/5/dual-boot-linux
![Windows and Ubuntu Dual Boot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/61fo0buzrs0jegqosiqu.jpg)

---

#### Option: Virtualization

A virtual machine (VM) is a software emulation of a physical computer system. It allows you to run multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical machine simultaneously. Here's a detailed explanation of VMs:

You can use virtualization software such as Oracle VirtualBox or VMware to create a virtual machine running Linux within your Windows environment. This allows you to run Linux as a guest operating system alongside Windows.

VM software provides options to allocate and manage hardware resources for each VM, including CPU cores, memory, disk space, and network bandwidth. You can adjust these allocations based on the requirements of the guest operating systems and applications.

Here are some of the options available for virtualization:
[Virtualbox](https://www.virtualbox.org/)
[QEMU](https://www.qemu.org/)
[VMware workstation player](https://www.vmware.com/)![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/divq7fhl63qebdvdqxb4.jpg)

---
#### Option: Containerization

Containerization is a lightweight virtualization method that allows you to package applications and their dependencies into isolated containers. Ubuntu, being a popular Linux distribution, is commonly used as a base image for creating containers. 

Here is a link how it all works with [Docker](https://www.makeuseof.com/run-ubuntu-as-docker-container/)

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gpd092cfawty1ok1it2j.jpg)

---
#### Option: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer in Windows that enables you to run a Linux environment directly on your Windows machine. It provides a native Linux kernel interface on top of the Windows kernel, allowing you to run Linux binaries and execute Linux commands without the need for a traditional virtual machine. WSL bridges the gap between Windows and Linux environments, providing a convenient way to use Linux tools and applications on a Windows machine. It offers a flexible and developer-friendly approach, allowing you to work with both Windows and Linux ecosystems side by side.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/55cv2rngm4r0jazekg56.png)