Whereas WSL has made it simpler for many who want to make use of each Home windows and Linux on the identical machine, there may nonetheless be causes to make use of an actual Linux desktop in your laptop.
On this article, we talk about the varied the reason why one would wish to set up a Linux desktop on their laptop.
1. You Can Nonetheless Use Home windows and Linux on the Identical Machine
With a full Linux desktop, you do not have to surrender your Home windows packages. Linux has supported varied methods to run Home windows alongside Linux from the start.
The basic possibility is dual-booting, utilizing a bootloader to decide on between the 2 techniques at boot time. You too can run Home windows or desktop Linux in a digital machine, relying on which system you employ much less regularly. If you wish to run Home windows packages, however you are dead-set on solely working Linux, you need to use Wine or Proton.
You’ve choices once you wish to run Home windows and Linux apps. You may maintain Home windows round for video games and different packages you want whereas utilizing Linux to be taught extra about computer systems, programming, system administration, or working techniques usually. It is a good division of labor.
2. Utilizing Linux Helps Free and Open-Supply Software program
The most important purpose to make use of Linux on the desktop is to help free and open-source software program. Even when Microsoft is supporting Linux and making contributions to open-source software program, Home windows itself remains to be proprietary. Think about writing that Microsoft would help a competitor’s product 20 years in the past!
Commonly utilizing and contributing no matter you may to open-source initiatives, together with cash and code, in addition to day by day use, will assist make sure the long-term viability of open-source software program. That is one purpose it’s best to think about straight contributing to your favourite Linux distros and open-source software program challenge.
3. Reporting Bugs Helps Enhance Desktop Linux
There appears to be extra curiosity in desktop Linux within the tech world, particularly amongst PC fans. Extra avid gamers are getting eager about Valve’s Steam Deck and protection from main YouTubers like Linus Tech Suggestions.
Regardless of the higher consideration, desktop Linux is rougher across the edges than Home windows setups, with some work required to get some {hardware} like graphics playing cards and Wi-Fi adapters up and working.
This may deter some customers, however the one strategy to repair bugs is to seek out them, and if you happen to’re severe about wanting desktop Linux to succeed, that will imply quickly enduring bugs. If you happen to run into hassle, it’s best to file a report as a substitute of simply silently switching again to Home windows.
The builders cannot repair issues they do not know about. Discovering bugs and fixing them will make Linux higher for everybody in the long term.
4. You may Study Extra About Linux
Whereas WSL could also be fantastic for studying the Linux command line, if you wish to study Linux, you may must run a full Linux distribution that features the kernel, presumably a desktop, in addition to the suite of purposes.
In order for you a profession in IT, figuring out about Linux system administration is important. This implies figuring out tips on how to boot the system, tips on how to repair it when it breaks, and tips on how to begin and cease server processes. All of this requires hands-on expertise.
Whereas WSL 2 runs on an actual Linux kernel, if you’d like all of this expertise, you may must boot up an actual Linux system. Thankfully, this expertise is just a partition or digital machine away.
5. Extra Linux Customers Means Higher {Hardware} Help
Linux desktop growth has suffered from a chicken-and-egg drawback. There’s not as a lot help from {hardware} builders, so unusual customers do not use desktop Linux, which signifies that fewer builders help it in flip. This makes websites just like the Linux Hardware Database vital for a lot of Linux customers to test compatibility earlier than set up.
With the rising curiosity in Linux gaming talked about above, this might change. If there’s higher help for gaming {hardware}, particularly graphics playing cards, this might make desktop Linux a viable challenger to Home windows, which has lengthy dominated PC gaming.
Working a Full Linux Distro Can Be Higher Than WSL
Whereas WSL is a fantastic product, there are nonetheless conditions the place working a full Linux distro on the desktop could be higher.
If you happen to’re on the fence about whether or not to stay to Linux or return to the Home windows desktop, learn on for a reasonably compelling case for the latter.
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