Star History
Momentum
+845
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
28
PER DAY
#14
MOST-STARRED C++
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +196 | +845 | +2.5K |
| Per day | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Forks gained | +9 | +37 | +92 |
WSL gained 845 stars in the last 30 days, about 28 a day, and now has 33.8K. It is about 10 years old and has averaged roughly 3.4K stars a year. It ranks #14 among C++ repositories and #304 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
4
DAYS ON TRENDING
#648
BEST RANK
Sep 25, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
WSL has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #648. 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 #304 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #299 | binwiederhier/ntfy | Go | ★ 34.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #300 | MonitorControl/MonitorControl | Swift | ★ 34.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #301 | jdx/mise | Rust | ★ 34.3K | Compare ↗ |
| #302 | rustfs/rustfs | Rust | ★ 34K | Compare ↗ |
| #303 | FreeCAD/FreeCAD | C++ | ★ 33.8K | Compare ↗ |
| #304 | microsoft/WSL This Project | C++ | ★ 33.8K | |
| #305 | tinygrad/tinygrad | Python | ★ 33.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #306 | lutzroeder/netron | JavaScript | ★ 33.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #307 | xai-org/x-algorithm | Rust | ★ 33.4K | Compare ↗ |
| #308 | gethomepage/homepage | JavaScript | ★ 32.9K | Compare ↗ |
| #309 | pmndrs/react-three-fiber | TypeScript | ★ 32.6K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WSL do? +
Windows Subsystem for Linux
What language is WSL written in? +
The primary language is C++. Topics include: software.
Is WSL actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Sep 25, 2026 with 997 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does WSL have? +
WSL has 33,785 stars and 1,836 forks on GitHub.
How does WSL rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 33,785 stars, microsoft/WSL is ranked #304 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #14 among C++ projects.
What license is WSL distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
