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Note #6 WSL Setup

Setting Up Ubuntu 24.04 in WSL with VS Code – A Beginner's Guide with Fixes

Setting up a Linux environment inside Windows using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) can be a game-changer for developers. However, the first-time setup often comes with a few hurdles. Here’s a guide documenting my setup experience, the issues I faced, and how I solved them.

🚀 Initial Setup

  1. Install WSL and Ubuntu 24.04

    • From PowerShell (as admin):

      wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

    • Launch Ubuntu from Start Menu and complete installation.

  2. Verify Installation

    lsb_release -a
echo "Hello from Linux!"
ls

    This confirms WSL is working.

🧭 Navigating the File System

  • Default directory: /root or /home/<your-user>.

  • You can list directories with:

    ls

📁 Creating a Projects Directory

  1. Create and enter the folder:

    mkdir -p ~/projects && cd ~/projects

  2. Clone a GitHub repository:

    git clone <https://github.com/user/repo-name.git>
cd repo-name

🖥️ Opening Projects in VS Code

✅ Recommended

  • Launch VS Code first.
  • Click Remote Explorer > WSL Targets.
  • Select Ubuntu 24.04.
  • Then, open the folder graphically from there.

❌ Problem: code: not found

Fix:

  • Open VS Code in Windows.

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+P, type:

    Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH

❌ Problem: sudo: not found

Fix:

  • Make sure you're using a proper Ubuntu WSL install (not a stripped-down rootfs or broken distro).

  • You can reset or reinstall using:

    wsl --unregister Ubuntu-24.04
wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

❌ Problem: "Unable to open folder"

Fix:

  • This typically means the folder path is broken or VS Code WSL extension didn’t load properly.

  • Open the folder via:

    \\\\wsl$\\Ubuntu-24.04\\home\\<username>\\projects

📂 Opening File Manager from WSL

explorer.exe .

This opens the current WSL path in Windows File Explorer.

🗃️ Working with a D: Drive Projects Folder in WSL

If your actual project files are stored in another drive like D:\\Projects, you can access and work on them in WSL without changing your setup.

✅ Access D: Drive Directly in WSL

cd /mnt/d/Projects
ls
code .

✅ Create a Symlink to D: Projects in WSL Home

ln -s /mnt/d/Projects ~/projects
cd ~/projects

This keeps you in your home structure but links to your Windows files.

✅ Open in VS Code (Inside WSL)

cd ~/projects
code .

🧩 Helpful Commands

whoami           # Get current Linux user
cd ~             # Go to home directory
mkdir folder     # Create a folder
ls -la           # List all files with permissions
code .           # Open current directory in VS Code

📌 Tips

  • Pin your WSL home directory in Quick Access:
    • Open File Explorer
    • Navigate to: \\\\wsl$\\Ubuntu-24.04\\home\\your-user
    • Right-click > Pin to Quick Access