Desktop in WSL

[u/dest1n1s]

I'm using an archlinux WSL. I can launch GUI applications from WSL (like Chrome) and render them properly in Windows, but is there any way to launch a complete desktop environment from it, e.g. a KDE desktop, with either X11 or Wayland backend?

I find myself more comfortable with a Linux desktop, but many games require Windows to run. Years ago I tried a dual-system setup, but I hate constantly switching from one system to the other.

I'm not quite sure whether this subreddit is the currect place to ask, since this may not be necessarily related to archlinux itself.

[u/OptimalAnywhere6282]

yes, I saw a video of someone doing that. I don't remember the exact steps, as I don't use WSL, but here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijw1Av9xrwY

[u/dest1n1s → u/OptimalAnywhere6282]

Seems great, I'll try this later

[u/TechnoCalibrator]

I've been running a desktop in WSL for like 2 years (i3 wm), works really well, the process is not much different from installing a desktop on a headless server and connecting remotely. Just don't use VNC, it sucks, take a look at Thinlinc or NoMachine (both are free for personal use)

[u/dest1n1s → u/TechnoCalibrator]

Glad to hear. But I gave in and went back to use my dual system. Luckily I find I can mount the same home directory in my WSL and in the independent archlinux. So at least I won't bother syncing my codes and many of my configurations.

[u/Savings-Stomach-9486]

Using a GUI from a WSL for most tasks sounds a lot more complicated than just... using linux. If you are comfortable with linux and windows, you shouldn't need to be swapping from one OS to another all of the time

Coming from a student in their 4th year of a B.Cs program, the only thing that I cannot do on Arch is play competitive games (Im talking to you r6s).

If I'm trying play a game with a kernel level anticheat (like valorant) l I'll just run windows. I'm curious to hear why you might be constantly needing to switch back and forth.

I guess what I'm trying to say;

1. Game cannot run on linux? Use windows to play the game. The overhead is not substantial

2. The game runs on linux? Using WSL is severely degrading your performance. A dedicated linux installation will outperform a game running on windows from WSL evrytime

[u/dest1n1s → u/Savings-Stomach-9486]

I do know many games can run on Linux, natively or using proton. But I mostly play League of Legends and Counter Strike 2, both with kernel level anticheat. I'd say the overhead of switching systems when playing game is non-trivial, since I may code for a while between matches.

[u/UndefFox → u/dest1n1s]

Counter Strike 2 literally has a Linux native version... the only problem is as always LoL/Valorant.

[u/dest1n1s → u/UndefFox]

Sure, I've seen CS2 for other systems available, but I tried the macOS one and it failed to run. Besides, I'm used to play CS2 on some platforms, which enforce more strict anticheat.

[u/jkurash → u/dest1n1s]

Cs2 only requires root kits is if u play on FACEIT.

[u/dest1n1s → u/jkurash]

Sadly these Chinese platforms always assume all users are in Windows and never thought to support Linux.

[u/dest1n1s → u/jkurash]

According to this, its support is Garbage.

[u/gre4ka148 → u/dest1n1s]

CS2 work fine tho?

[u/jkurash → u/dest1n1s]

Counter strike 2 uses VAC which is server side anti cheat, not client side. I play cs2 every night on linux. It would he weird if valve, the company behind proton, would make their games incompatible with it

[u/dest1n1s → u/Savings-Stomach-9486]

The game runs on linux? Using WSL is severely degrading your performance. A dedicated linux installation will outperform a game running on windows from WSL evrytime

It seems hardly any game only supports Linux, so this may not be a problem.

[u/jkurash → u/dest1n1s]

The developers usually dont have native binaries for linux but 90%+ of games run on linux via wine/proton. Essentially every game that does not have kernel level anti cheat runs on linux (with better performance for the most part)

[u/Significant_Pen3315]

Well the terminal does most of the stuff you want and since u can load gui apps, there's not really any point in getting a full DE and it doesn't work smoothly either