Installing Linux on a Mac Yes, there is an option to run Linux temporarily on a Mac through the virtual box but if you’re looking for a permanent solution, you might want to completely replace the present operating system with a Linux distro. To install Linux on a Mac, you’ll need a formatted USB drive with storage up to 8GB. Transitioning between Mac and Windows. Check out our guide to transitioning between between a Mac and Windows (or Windows Subsystem for Linux) development environment. It can help you map the difference between: Keyboard shortcuts; Trackpad shortcuts; Terminal and shell tools; Apps and utilities.
-->This guide will help you get started with installing and setting up the languages and tools you need to develop on Windows or Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Development paths
Get started with NodeJS
Install NodeJS and get your development environment setup on Windows or Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Get started with Python
Install Python and get your development environment setup on Windows or Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Get started with Android
Install Android Studio, or choose a cross-platform solution like Xamarin, React, or Cordova, and get your development environment setup on Windows.
Get started with Windows Desktop
Get started building desktop apps for Windows 10 using UWP, Win32, WPF, Windows Forms, or updating and deploying existing desktop apps with MSIX and XAML Islands.
Get started with C++ and C
Get started with C++, C, and assembly to develop apps, services, and tools.
Linux Environment For Mac Operating System
Get started with C#
Get started building apps using C# and .NET Core.
Get started with Docker Desktop for Windows
Create remote development containers with support from Visual Studio, VS Code, .NET, Windows Subsystem for Linux, or a variety of Azure services.
Get started with PowerShell
Get started with cross-platform task automation and configuration management using PowerShell, a command-line shell and scripting language.
Tools and platforms
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Use your favorite Linux distribution fully integrated with Windows (no more need for dual-boot).
Install WSL
Windows Terminal
Customize your terminal environment to work with multiple command line shells.
Install Terminal
Windows Package Manager
Use the winget.exe client, a comprehensive package manager, with your command line to install applications on Windows 10.
Install Windows Package Manager (public preview)
Windows PowerToys
Tune and streamline your Windows experience for greater productivity with this set of power user utilities.
Install PowerToys (public preview)
VS Code
A lightweight source code editor with built-in support for JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, a rich ecosystem of extensions (C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go) and runtimes (such as .NET and Unity).
Install VS Code
Visual Studio
An integrated development environment that you can use to edit, debug, build code, and publish apps, including compilers, intellisense code completion, and many more features.
Install Visual Studio
Azure
A complete cloud platform to host your existing apps and streamline new development. Azure services integrate everything you need to develop, test, deploy, and manage your apps.
Set up an Azure account
.NET
An open source development platform with tools and libraries for building any type of app, including web, mobile, desktop, gaming, IoT, cloud, and microservices.
Install .NET
Download Linux For Mac
Run Windows and Linux
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows developers to run a Linux operating system right alongside Windows. Both share the same hard drive (and can access each other’s files), the clipboard supports copy-and-paste between the two naturally, there's no need for dual-booting. WSL enables you to use BASH and will provide the kind of environment most familiar to Mac users.
- Learn more in the WSL docs or via WSL videos on Channel 9.
You can also use Windows Terminal to open all of your favorite command line tools in the same window with multiple tabs, or in multiple panes, whether that's PowerShell, Windows Command Prompt, Ubuntu, Debian, Azure CLI, Oh-my-Zsh, Git Bash, or all of the above.
Linux Environment For Mac High Sierra
Learn more in the Windows Terminal docs or via Windows Terminal videos on Channel 9.
Transitioning between Mac and Windows
Linux Environment File
Check out our guide to transitioning between between a Mac and Windows (or Windows Subsystem for Linux) development environment. It can help you map the difference between: