The arrival of Windows Subsystem for Linux in Windows 10 and Windows 11 has opened up a new world for users of Linux-based distributions. Until now, Ubuntu fans were limited to installing Long Term Support (LTS) releases, but that’s changing. Recognizing that many people like to be on the cutting edge, Canonical announced that the preview version of Ubuntu is now also available to download and install from the Microsoft Store.
In making the Ubuntu preview available to WSL users in Windows 10 and Windows 11, Canonical is giving more people the chance to try out very release builds.
In announcing the change, the company said: “As of now, our current Long Term Support (LTS) releases are available to Ubuntu WSL users. These provide data science, cloud, networking and IoT developers with a stable Ubuntu development environment and deep integration with Windows”. But what if you’re one of those people who likes to live on the edge? What about those who want innovation first and stability second? Well, the Ubuntu Preview is here to satisfy those thrill-seekers, giving users a chance to try the latest updates and improvements as they appear. ”
This app delivers the latest daily builds of Ubuntu WSL directly to your Windows PC. As amazing as this may sound, it is not recommended for production and development as it may be unstable and will have bugs. But if you want a sneak peek at Ubuntu’s future, or want to help identify issues and improvements, it’s probably just what you’re looking for.
If that sounds interesting, you can grab an Ubuntu preview from the Microsoft Store: