Microsoft Optimizes Windows 11 for Developers with Deeper Linux Ties

Microsoft announced a developer-optimized experience for Windows 11 at the start of its Build developer conference. The updates focus on performance and reliability fixes while bundling tools and apps that embrace Linux even further.

Windows 11 receives targeted optimizations for developers. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri said the company has optimized the Windows 11 experience for developers. This brings frequently used command line utilities, a familiar comfort shell, faster setup experience, a built-in way to create and interact with Linux containers on Windows, and a new experimental Intelligent Terminal.

The changes form part of a promise to make Windows a trusted platform for development.

Coreutils for Windows delivers native Linux-like utilities. Microsoft created Coreutils for Windows from the uutils open-source project. This is a cross-platform reimplementation of the GNU coreutils in Rust.

“These are Linux-like command-line utilities that run natively on Windows,” says Davuluri. The utilities ensure commands and workflows built over years continue to work when moving between Linux, macOS, WSL, containers, or cloud environments.

WSL containers expand subsystem integration. Microsoft open-sourced the Windows Subsystem for Linux at Build last year. It is now integrating WSL even further into Windows with new WSL containers.

WSL containers provide a built-in way to create, run, and interact with Linux containers on Windows. Microsoft built both a command-line interface and API for WSL containers, allowing developers to run Linux containers inside native Windows apps. WSL containers will be available in public preview in the coming months.

Intelligent Terminal extends the existing Windows Terminal. Microsoft is building on the success of its existing Windows Terminal with a new experimental Intelligent Terminal for developers. “Intelligent Terminal provides context to your favorite agents via ACP so you can stay in the terminal and query, debug or complete any task on hand,” explains Davuluri.

It includes everything the Windows Terminal offers, including tabs, profiles, themes, settings, and shells. The addition brings native agent CLI integration in the agent pane.

Windows Developer Configurations reach general availability. The developer-friendly changes include the general availability of Windows Developer Configurations. These provide a quick way to set up new machines with developer-optimized settings.

Microsoft has been experimenting with this idea for a few years. The configurations install tools like WSL, PowerShell 7, and Visual Studio Code while enabling Git version control in File Explorer and showing hidden files.