Not Kidding! Microsoft Just Brought Linux Commands to Windows Officially
It's FOSS • • technology
Key Points:
- Microsoft has released and is maintaining a native Windows version of coreutils, the foundational Unix/Linux command-line utilities like ls, grep, and cat, implemented in Rust and bundled into a single executable.
- Unlike WSL, these Linux commands run natively on Windows without requiring a Linux subsystem, supporting the same flags and behavior as on Linux to enable seamless cross-platform scripting.
- The current release is a preview with a limited set of commands, excluding some that conflict with Windows built-ins or rely on POSIX features unavailable on Windows, and it supports both Command Prompt and PowerShell environments.
- This move aims to reduce friction for developers by allowing scripts to run unchanged across Linux, macOS, WSL, containers, and Windows, helping Microsoft retain developers on its platform.
- Beyond developer convenience, the integration of coreutils supports AI frameworks like OpenClaw, which rely on Linux commands to run autonomous agents locally, positioning Windows as a key platform for the emerging agentic AI era.