Your Linux Development Environment on Windows

This guide is for Windows users who want a real Linux development environment — fast, native, and without the overhead of Docker Desktop. If you are already on Linux, skip to the section on creating the workspace structure.

Step 1 — Check if WSL is Already Installed

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run:

wsl --status

If WSL is not installed or you see an error, install it:

winget install --id 9TTXT7S1DXQL -e

This installs Debian Trixie from the Microsoft Store. Alternatively, open the Microsoft Store, search for Debian, and install it from there.

Step 2 — First Launch and User Setup

Launch Debian from the Start menu. On first run, it will ask you to create a UNIX user.

When prompted for a username, type node and press Enter.
When prompted for a password, press Enter to leave it empty.
Confirm with Enter again.

You are now inside Debian as the node user.

Step 3 — Update the System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 4 — Configure Passwordless sudo

This lets you run sudo commands without typing a password every time. Useful when working alone on your own machine.

sudo bash -c 'echo "node ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" > /etc/sudoers.d/node'
sudo chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/node

Step 5 — Disable Login Password for the node User

sudo passwd -d node

Step 6 — Set node as the Default WSL User

This ensures every time you open WSL you are automatically logged in as node.

sudo bash -c 'printf "[user]\ndefault=node\n" > /etc/wsl.conf'

Step 7 — Create the Workspace Structure

sudo mkdir -p /workspace/projects
sudo chown -R node:node /workspace

From now on, /workspace/projects is your development home. All your projects live here, owned by the node user — no permission issues.

Step 8 — Restart WSL

From PowerShell:

wsl --shutdown
wsl

You are now logged in automatically as node, with your workspace ready.

Verify Everything Works

whoami
# node

ls -la /workspace
# drwxr-xr-x node node projects

sudo apt update
# should run without asking for a password

You are ready. Continue with the next guide to install Node.js, Docker, Git, and VSCode.