⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative SourceWSL is WSL is an open-source project written in C++: Windows Subsystem for Linux..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), microsoft/WSL has accumulated 34,358 GitHub stars and 1,883 forks. It is written in C++, licensed under MIT, and ranks #468 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Nov 12, 2026.”
| Repository | microsoft/WSL ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | developer tools |
| Language & Stack | C++ |
| Software License | MIT |
| Community Traction | ★ 34.4K stars · ⑂ 1.9K forks · #468 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Nov 12, 2026) · 1,048 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 90/100 · Grade AYes, WSL is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Nov 12, 2026 (1 days ago). Supported by 34,358 stars and 1,883 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 90/100, reflecting very active (commits within last 14 days) and high open issue volume (1,048 open).
Star History
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+359
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
12
PER DAY
#24
MOST-STARRED C++
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +66 | +359 | +1.1K |
| Per day | 9 | 12 | 12 |
| Forks gained | +4 | +30 | +94 |
WSL gained 359 stars in the last 30 days, about 12 a day, and now has 34.4K. It is about 11 years old and has averaged roughly 3.1K stars a year. It ranks #24 among C++ repositories and #468 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
43
DAYS ON TRENDING
#251
BEST RANK
Sep 25, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
WSL has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #251. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
WSL is an open-source project written in C++: Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in C++. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in C++ for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/microsoft/WSL.git
cd WSL⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
C++20 compliant compiler (GCC 11+, Clang 13+, MSVC)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
WSL coordinates its core functionality through a modular C++ pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed WSL into C++ backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open MIT license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install WSL using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/microsoft/WSL.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for WSL.
Import WSL into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `WSL --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
microsoft/WSL is currently ranked #468 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #463 | huggingface/diffusers | Python | ★ 34.8K | Compare ↗ |
| #464 | NginxProxyManager/nginx-proxy-manager | TypeScript | ★ 34.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #465 | MonitorControl/MonitorControl | Swift | ★ 34.6K | Compare ↗ |
| #466 | SeleniumHQ/selenium | Java | ★ 34.6K | Compare ↗ |
| #467 | vorssaint/vorssaint-utils | Swift | ★ 34.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #468 | microsoft/WSL This Project | C++ | ★ 34.4K | |
| #469 | swc-project/swc | Rust | ★ 34.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #470 | apache/kafka | Java | ★ 34.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #471 | pcottle/learnGitBranching | JavaScript | ★ 34.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #472 | k3s-io/k3s | Go | ★ 34.2K | Compare ↗ |
| #473 | shadps4-emu/shadPS4 | C++ | ★ 34.1K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WSL do? +
Windows Subsystem for Linux
Is WSL actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, WSL is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Nov 12, 2026 (1 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 90/100 (A rating) with 34,358 stars and 1,048 open issues.
What language is WSL written in? +
The primary language is C++. Topics include: software.
How many stars does WSL have? +
WSL has 34,358 stars and 1,883 forks on GitHub.
How does WSL rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 34,358 stars, microsoft/WSL is ranked #468 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #24 among C++ projects.
What license is WSL distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
