Microsoft has officially released the final version of its WSL containers, a feature that allows users to create, run, and manage Linux containers directly on Windows. This update, first shown at the Build conference in the summer, became available on September 29. The goal of the project is to provide a seamless, enterprise-ready way to handle Linux containers on Windows without needing extra third-party tools. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a Windows component that lets users run a virtualized Linux distribution directly on their system. Popular distributions like Ubuntu and Debian are available through the Microsoft Store. The new WSL containers are part of the latest version of WSL (3.0.1) and can be installed by downloading the binary from the GitHub repository or by using the command "wsl --update" in the terminal. The feature relies on two main components: wslc.exe, a tool used to build, launch, and manage containers, and a NuGet package called Microsoft.WSL.Containers, which allows native Windows applications to control these containers. Microsoft provided an example of using this feature to run local AI workloads. In terms of architecture, each user has their own session, and the level of privilege can be adjusted, including centrally in enterprise settings. Storage options include a VHD per session, volumes based on VHD, or container volumes based on virtiofs, which Microsoft claims are up to twice as fast as the previous plan9 approach used by WSL. The network is handled by a component called Consommé, which manages DNS, routing, and port mapping, making it easier to work with VPNs and firewalls. An example of use includes a Windows application embedding a Linux component, such as a desktop application written in C# launching a container to run an inference model. This is the example of a local AI workload provided by Microsoft. While Docker is not directly named, the feature is positioned as a competitor, with Microsoft highlighting its integration with other products like Intune and Defender for Endpoint. WSL containers allow Windows applications to use them directly, without going through third-party tools (WSL must still be installed). This is version 1.0, primarily aimed at large enterprises where this level of integration can make a significant difference. According to Microsoft, compatibility with Docker Compose is one of the most requested features, and the company states that support for existing compose.yaml files is a priority for future updates. The final version includes several new features. If users tested the WSL containers this summer, the final version brings many improvements, including a dozen new commands. For example, "wslc container restart" allows restarting a running container, "wslc system info" provides an overview of the container environment, or "wslc network connect" attaches containers to the network (or "disconnect" to detach them). Integrations have also appeared with partners and community projects. Containers are now supported in Visual Studio Code, where users can set wslc as the default driver to create and interact with WSL containers. Microsoft also mentions projects like Aspire, Lazywslc, WSL Container Desktop, and WSLc Remote, the latter allowing users to launch wslc from Linux distributions supported by WSL. Microsoft states that its investments in WSL will continue. "Over time, we see Linux under Windows evolving beyond a development environment toward a strategic execution platform for AI and native cloud workloads, participating in the same security, management, and enterprise governance frameworks as Windows," the company assures.