F5F Stay Refreshed Software Operating Systems Choose between WSL and dual boot based on your needs.

Choose between WSL and dual boot based on your needs.

Choose between WSL and dual boot based on your needs.

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godfreydtm
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04-26-2021, 03:05 PM
#1
For the Mods I wasn’t sure if to share it in the Linux or Windows section, so I went with the general one. The topic also involves storage devices which made me unsure about the right forum. Currently I own an HP Omen 15 Laptop (Ryzen 5 4600H, 16GB DDR4 RAM, GTX 1660Ti and a single 512GB WD SN730), running Windows 11. My college starts classes soon for my first year, and I’ll need Linux for things like MATLAB and other courses. I’m considering either dual booting Linux or using WSL 2 (which supports GUI apps on Windows 11). I want to know if WSL performs well enough and whether it’s safe to run it without storing data on my C: drive partition.
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godfreydtm
04-26-2021, 03:05 PM #1

For the Mods I wasn’t sure if to share it in the Linux or Windows section, so I went with the general one. The topic also involves storage devices which made me unsure about the right forum. Currently I own an HP Omen 15 Laptop (Ryzen 5 4600H, 16GB DDR4 RAM, GTX 1660Ti and a single 512GB WD SN730), running Windows 11. My college starts classes soon for my first year, and I’ll need Linux for things like MATLAB and other courses. I’m considering either dual booting Linux or using WSL 2 (which supports GUI apps on Windows 11). I want to know if WSL performs well enough and whether it’s safe to run it without storing data on my C: drive partition.

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live77
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194
04-26-2021, 09:49 PM
#2
This task covers both Windows and Linux, aiming for a dual boot setup.
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live77
04-26-2021, 09:49 PM #2

This task covers both Windows and Linux, aiming for a dual boot setup.

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Gabokazu
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04-26-2021, 10:56 PM
#3
I wouldn't rely on WSL for advanced tasks beyond basic Qt/GTK rendering. In fact, everything I've experimented with on WSLg has functioned well, though I haven't pushed it to its limits. I'm assuming the CAD tools will depend on libraries not available in WSL and would likely perform better with full GPU support. To be clear, running a complete desktop environment isn't feasible on WSL, so I strongly recommend using a dual-boot setup.
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Gabokazu
04-26-2021, 10:56 PM #3

I wouldn't rely on WSL for advanced tasks beyond basic Qt/GTK rendering. In fact, everything I've experimented with on WSLg has functioned well, though I haven't pushed it to its limits. I'm assuming the CAD tools will depend on libraries not available in WSL and would likely perform better with full GPU support. To be clear, running a complete desktop environment isn't feasible on WSL, so I strongly recommend using a dual-boot setup.

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flarbi
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04-26-2021, 11:52 PM
#4
University courses are built to work across different operating systems. MATLAB offers a Windows edition if needed. If a coding session involves Java or simple C++, you won’t need OS-specific tools—just recompile where necessary. The main libraries you’ll encounter are standard C++ ones that run on any platform. WSL is widely adopted in software engineering. I rely on it regularly; it offers excellent speed. For machine learning or AI projects, companies provide drivers for Nvidia, AMD, and Intel to leverage GPU power. You can find more details here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows...s/gui-apps. However, WSL isn’t built for gaming on Linux—dual booting might be better if you want to play exclusive titles. WSL is installed alongside Windows, typically in the user profile folder. Performance can drop when accessing files stored on Windows, as noted by Microsoft. For optimal results, keep your projects within your Linux distribution directory (e.g., /home/projects/my_super_project) rather than mixing with Windows paths like C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages. Avoid placing files there; use the Linux path instead. You can run Windows programs inside WSL by executing explorer.exe, which will launch Windows Explorer in your terminal. This lets you browse Linux files from Windows, such as when submitting assignments. Remember, modifying files in C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages can corrupt them—stick to the recommended paths. The distro I suggest for strong support is Ubuntu.
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flarbi
04-26-2021, 11:52 PM #4

University courses are built to work across different operating systems. MATLAB offers a Windows edition if needed. If a coding session involves Java or simple C++, you won’t need OS-specific tools—just recompile where necessary. The main libraries you’ll encounter are standard C++ ones that run on any platform. WSL is widely adopted in software engineering. I rely on it regularly; it offers excellent speed. For machine learning or AI projects, companies provide drivers for Nvidia, AMD, and Intel to leverage GPU power. You can find more details here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows...s/gui-apps. However, WSL isn’t built for gaming on Linux—dual booting might be better if you want to play exclusive titles. WSL is installed alongside Windows, typically in the user profile folder. Performance can drop when accessing files stored on Windows, as noted by Microsoft. For optimal results, keep your projects within your Linux distribution directory (e.g., /home/projects/my_super_project) rather than mixing with Windows paths like C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages. Avoid placing files there; use the Linux path instead. You can run Windows programs inside WSL by executing explorer.exe, which will launch Windows Explorer in your terminal. This lets you browse Linux files from Windows, such as when submitting assignments. Remember, modifying files in C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Packages can corrupt them—stick to the recommended paths. The distro I suggest for strong support is Ubuntu.

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Waverabbit
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643
05-15-2021, 12:54 PM
#5
I hope so, but my expectations are low from where I come. In schools and colleges, teachers/IT staff usually aren't very technically skilled. They often install Linux on your computer without asking you, instead of helping you get the program on Windows. Yeah, it might be C or C++ or Python about WSL... So if I need a GUI app, I should dual boot. If I need to use the terminal or other non-GUI stuff, I can try, but there will likely be a performance issue.
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Waverabbit
05-15-2021, 12:54 PM #5

I hope so, but my expectations are low from where I come. In schools and colleges, teachers/IT staff usually aren't very technically skilled. They often install Linux on your computer without asking you, instead of helping you get the program on Windows. Yeah, it might be C or C++ or Python about WSL... So if I need a GUI app, I should dual boot. If I need to use the terminal or other non-GUI stuff, I can try, but there will likely be a performance issue.

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ACORNMAN
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47
05-15-2021, 05:58 PM
#6
Python works on various platforms. Depends on the library. I haven’t checked every program on Linux. It seems to function well based on my experience. Just keep in mind some apps may require different desktop environments like KDE or Gnome, and you might need to adjust settings accordingly. That’s part of learning Linux. Try identifying the app you’re using and set it up beforehand.
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ACORNMAN
05-15-2021, 05:58 PM #6

Python works on various platforms. Depends on the library. I haven’t checked every program on Linux. It seems to function well based on my experience. Just keep in mind some apps may require different desktop environments like KDE or Gnome, and you might need to adjust settings accordingly. That’s part of learning Linux. Try identifying the app you’re using and set it up beforehand.

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thehappy84
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594
05-16-2021, 05:13 PM
#7
Personal insights from both students and staff. If what I went through is accurate, IT teams likely won’t understand how to work with the system. They should either provide more Windows licenses for students (especially for tools like MATLAB) or offer a discounted version. A bigger issue could be if a T.A. or professor blames the operating system for problems, even when using the same programs—this happened when teachers were overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s just not worth the effort; dual booting might save you from unnecessary stress.
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thehappy84
05-16-2021, 05:13 PM #7

Personal insights from both students and staff. If what I went through is accurate, IT teams likely won’t understand how to work with the system. They should either provide more Windows licenses for students (especially for tools like MATLAB) or offer a discounted version. A bigger issue could be if a T.A. or professor blames the operating system for problems, even when using the same programs—this happened when teachers were overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s just not worth the effort; dual booting might save you from unnecessary stress.

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Damien1019
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185
05-20-2021, 10:59 AM
#8
You're asking about the location of a staff member who installs Linux or similar software without your consent, but it sounds like you're referencing a specific workplace or organization. Could you clarify which company or setting you mean? That way I can give you an accurate answer.
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Damien1019
05-20-2021, 10:59 AM #8

You're asking about the location of a staff member who installs Linux or similar software without your consent, but it sounds like you're referencing a specific workplace or organization. Could you clarify which company or setting you mean? That way I can give you an accurate answer.

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Ezekel
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30
05-22-2021, 05:32 PM
#9
India, I realize it might sound strange, but this location is quite unusual.
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Ezekel
05-22-2021, 05:32 PM #9

India, I realize it might sound strange, but this location is quite unusual.

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iTzRed96
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73
06-12-2021, 06:33 AM
#10
This summary looks useful; I’ll save it for later. There’s a comparable issue I’m facing, and I’m considering using Windows 11 WSL to set up a build space for compiling C++ projects targeting both Windows 64-bit and Android. Since the person who helped me knows Linux build systems well, I’m wondering if running WSL on Windows 11 (64-bit) with Ubuntu would meet these needs. Would it be feasible to have this environment work alongside a dual-boot Linux setup? Specifically, for all targets you mentioned:
- GNU make
- GCC or Clang/LLVM 4.0 (with `make CLANG=y`)
- GNU gettext
- rsvg
- ImageMagick 6.4
- xsltproc
- Info-ZIP
- Perl and XML:Tonguearser
- FFmpeg

For Linux compilation on the system:
- zlib, CURL, Lua, libinput, SDL, SDL_ttf, libpng, libjpeg, OpenGL (Mesa), and a suitable font package are required.

On Android side:
- Android SDK level 26, NDK r22b, Ogg Vorbis, JDK 8+, and the needed SDK components such as Android SDK Build-Tools 28.0.3 and SDK Platform 26.

The source code is managed via GitHub (github.com) and built using gnu Make. Let me know if this setup can truly serve as a solid alternative to a dual-boot Linux system.
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iTzRed96
06-12-2021, 06:33 AM #10

This summary looks useful; I’ll save it for later. There’s a comparable issue I’m facing, and I’m considering using Windows 11 WSL to set up a build space for compiling C++ projects targeting both Windows 64-bit and Android. Since the person who helped me knows Linux build systems well, I’m wondering if running WSL on Windows 11 (64-bit) with Ubuntu would meet these needs. Would it be feasible to have this environment work alongside a dual-boot Linux setup? Specifically, for all targets you mentioned:
- GNU make
- GCC or Clang/LLVM 4.0 (with `make CLANG=y`)
- GNU gettext
- rsvg
- ImageMagick 6.4
- xsltproc
- Info-ZIP
- Perl and XML:Tonguearser
- FFmpeg

For Linux compilation on the system:
- zlib, CURL, Lua, libinput, SDL, SDL_ttf, libpng, libjpeg, OpenGL (Mesa), and a suitable font package are required.

On Android side:
- Android SDK level 26, NDK r22b, Ogg Vorbis, JDK 8+, and the needed SDK components such as Android SDK Build-Tools 28.0.3 and SDK Platform 26.

The source code is managed via GitHub (github.com) and built using gnu Make. Let me know if this setup can truly serve as a solid alternative to a dual-boot Linux system.

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