Re: Windows Subsystem for Linux

[Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer@gmail.com>]

Hello,

Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org> writes:

> Hi,
>
> zimoun <zimon.toutoune@gmail.com> skribis:
>
>> About FSDG, the arguments are exactly the same as GNU Emacs on
>> Windows. :-) No?  I mean, GNU Emacs provides a full port on Windows and
>> such port is available on the same side as other platforms on their
>> website [1].  The rationale [2]:
>>
>>         The purpose of the GNU system is to give users the freedom that
>>         proprietary software takes away from its users. Proprietary
>>         operating systems (like other proprietary programs) are an
>>         injustice, and we aim for a world in which they do not exist.
>>
>>         To improve the use of proprietary systems is a misguided
>>         goal. Our aim, rather, is to eliminate them. We include support
>>         for some proprietary systems in GNU Emacs in the hope that
>>         running Emacs on them will give users a taste of freedom and
>>         thus lead them to free themselves.
>>
>> would also make sense for GNU Guix, no?
>
> Just like the Emacs manual has an appendix on Windows support, I think
> the cookbook could have a section on setting up Guix on WSL2.
>
> Cc’ing maintainers for their thoughts!

I think if it's worded correctly (e.g., by hinting that WSL2 is an
inferior means of running Guix than via Guix System or one of the others
GNU/Linux distributions), it can be a fine and useful addition to the
cookbook.  I have fellow coworkers (not at Savoir-faire Linux, mind you
:-)) who have yet to escape their Windows jail; giving them a taste of
what is possible out there with Guix would probably be a real eye
opener.  At the minimum it would present Guix as a technically viable
alternative to Docker & friends in these circles.

Thanks,

Maxim