How to Install Ubuntu on Windows 10 with WSL: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Open Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off , locate Windows Subsystem for Linux , check the box, apply the changes and restart the computer when prompted.

Install a Linux distribution (Ubuntu) from Microsoft Store

After the reboot, open the Microsoft Store, search for Ubuntu (other free options include openSUSE Leap and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server), and click Install . When the installation finishes, launch Ubuntu from the Start menu.

Initial Ubuntu setup

The first launch completes a lightweight installation and prompts you to create a non‑root user name and password. This user will be used for subsequent commands.

Update package lists and upgrade existing packages

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This refreshes the APT repository metadata and upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions.

Install the Go toolchain and documentation tools

sudo apt install -y golang-go golang-golang-x-tools

The golang-go package provides the Go compiler, while golang-golang-x-tools includes godoc and other useful utilities.

Verify the installation

go version
go env

These commands should display the Go version (e.g., go version go1.20 linux/amd64) and the environment configuration, confirming that the toolchain is functional inside WSL.

Summary

Enabling WSL and installing Ubuntu provides a native‑like Linux environment on Windows 10 Pro, allowing developers to compile, test, and run Linux applications (including Go projects) without the overhead of a separate virtual machine.

Source: majianguo (cnblogs.com/majianguo/p/8047676.html)