[arch-dev-public] Windows Subsystem Linux - Arch Linux as official container?

[Doug Newgard]

On Mon, 29 Jan 2018 22:14:55 +0100
Christian Rebischke via arch-dev-public <arch-dev-public at archlinux.org> wrote:

> On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 03:09:16PM -0600, Public mailing list for Arch Linux development wrote:
> > On Mon, 29 Jan 2018 22:00:28 +0100
> > Christian Rebischke via arch-dev-public <arch-dev-public at archlinux.org> wrote:
> >   
> > > Hello everybody,
> > > I would like to start a discussion about Windows Subsystem Linux and
> > > Arch linux. You all might know that Microsoft has increased their
> > > participation in open source software a lot since Satya Nadella is CEO
> > > of Microsoft.
> > > 
> > > They even implemented a subsystem on Windows 10 for executing natively
> > > ELF binaries on Windows. This system is based on docker images and some
> > > nice guys from Microsoft have asked Allan and me if Arch Linux would be
> > > interested to participate in this project.
> > > 
> > > The steps for getting into the project are:
> > > 
> > > * Signup in the Microsoft Appstore (we would get a free voucher if we
> > >   want to participate) as Organization (we need the ok from one of our
> > >   trademark holders for this step)
> > > * modifying our docker container a little bit
> > > * pushing it into the microsoft appstore
> > > 
> > > So what do you think? Should we participate in that project?
> > > 
> > > Here are some pros and contras:
> > > 
> > > pro:
> > >     - CentOS and Ubuntu are there too
> > >     - Would be a nice chance to increase the awareness about Arch Linux
> > >     - might get people to change from Windows to Arch Linux (or linux in
> > >       general)
> > >     - Nice way to test our docker image in production
> > >     - People who are forced to work on windows at work can use Arch
> > >       Linux at work as well
> > >     - More bugreports / feedback / forum activity?
> > > 
> > > contras:
> > >     - Microsoft is Microsoft (I think I don't need to explain)
> > >     - More Newbies?
> > >     - Somebody would need to maintain it (I would do it)
> > >     - If Arch Linux partnerships with Microsoft could lead into bad image?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I would like to hear as much feedback as possible. So don't be shy :)
> > > I want to give feedback to the microsoft guys in round about 1 week.
> > > I guess that should be enough to dicuss this topic.
> > > 
> > > So deadline is 2018-02-7
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -- Chris  
> > 
> > This has come up before, my personal preference is that if you want Arch is
> > WSL, go ahead and install Arch in WSL. It's not difficult by just using the
> > bootstrap image. IMO, this would be similar to us supporting Manjaro, Antergos,
> > or any other automatic, pre-configured and setup system.  
> 
> The difference would be "it's official". There are Arch Linux WSL
> containers at the moment btw:
> 
> https://github.com/alwsl/alwsl
> 
> But it's nothing official.
> 

And that's my point, it would be official; and I don't think the
pre-configured, ready-to-to setup is where Arch is in the marketplace, and
shouldn't be. Arch is a niche distro catering to a specific segment, Windows
converts and people that want things easy is not that segment.
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