On 1/29/25 10:15 PM, Robin Candau wrote:
On 1/28/25 12:59 AM, Robin Candau wrote:
Hi everyone,
I'm writing this mail to collect thoughts and interests about
providing an official Arch Linux image for WSL (Windows Subsystem for
Linux) [1].
[...]
Hey,
After only a few days, this proposal has generated quite some
attractions with a majority of positive feedback, both from users and
staff!
[...]
Hi everyone,
Microsoft confirmed me their interest in including an official Arch
Linux WSL image in their distribution manifest and also agreed on a
frequency of one pull request per month to keep it updated [1] (which
matches the release frequency of our ISO).
With the above and the overall positive feedback I got so far, I think
we are *technically* ready to proceed.
For good measure, I'd still like give a bit more time for one more round
of thoughts / validations on the current specifications for distributing
an official Arch Linux WSL image:
- A dedicated repository in our GitLab instance, allowing to manage the
project independently from others and contain WSL specific issues in a
single separate location (the current "PoC" / repo proposal is currently
available under my personal namespace [2]).
- A dedicated image automatically built from scratch and published /
released once a month via a scheduled GitLab CI [3]. The image provides
the simplest but complete system (including systemd support out of the
box). The build workflow is inspired by the one from our Docker images,
minus the stuff we don't want for a WSL image (e.g. documentation file
stripping) and provide an easy way to build your own image [4].
- Installation & setup as easy and straightforward as possible:
* From a Windows system with WSL 2.4.4 or greater: The WSL Arch
system can be installed & setup via a single PowerShell command [5] (or
a double click on the downloaded image [6]).
* From a Windows system with WSL prior to 2.4.4: The WSL Arch
system can be installed by importing the downloaded image via a single
PowerShell command and can then be setup via a single shell command from
the started system [7].
* Providing an image via the Windows store in out of the scope (due
to the required policy / TOS agreements).
- Technical support is provided at a best effort level with low priority
& only for WSL2 (WSL1 is _not_ supported). We don't expect Arch staff to
provide support if they can't and / or don't want to. Some community
involvement regarding support in the dedicated WSL repo is however expected.
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts! If needed, the full thread is
readable at [8].
Given that there is no strong objection expressed in the next few days /
weeks about the above specifications, I'll start proceeding to the last
required steps with the help of our DevOps (thanks wCPO / Kristian &
artafinde / Leonidas for great tips and help).
Those include: merging the GitLab repo [2] under the "archlinux"
namespace, switching to secure runners for the "build" and "release" CI
stages, moving the built images from the GitLab package registry to our
geo mirrors and setting up automatic monthly PR to update the Microsoft
WSL distribution manifest [1].
Until then, I remain available to answer any questions :)
[1] https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/12551
[2] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl
[3] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl/-/pipeline_schedules
[4] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl#building-your-own-image
[5] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl#automated-install
[6] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl#wsl-244-or-greater
[7] https://gitlab.archlinux.org/antiz/archlinux-wsl#wsl-prior-to-244
[8]
https://lists.archlinux.org/archives/list/arch-dev-public@lists.archlinux.org/thread/73A4BK7YK4BJBVXGMN2I5CROQAWI53VZ/
--
Regards,
Robin Candau / Antiz
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