A new window is opening with more capabilities aimed at developers following the 10-year anniversary of Microsoft’s Windows desktop operating system.

The company incorporated the Linux Bash shell, a new subsystem that will allow users to run Linux (an open-source OS) commands on Windows 10 as a native operation without the use of any extraneous mixed bag of conversion tools, virtual machines or other aides.

This is a big boon for developers who prefer the Linux tool, but not the additional hassle of incompatibility with Microsoft’s operating systems prior to its latest release of Windows 10. Linux’s Bash shell is its long-time command-line utility that acts as a visual prompt to type in further programming commands automatically. Microsoft added the subsystem for Linux to run in conjunction with Windows applications in a deal with Canonical, the London-based company behind the open-source Ubuntu OS.
As developers are turning more toward open-source tools, many are behind the collaboration and excited to go from using a variety of tools to a more seamless approach to run commands on the world’s second most popular desktop OS.

Microsoft VP, Terry Myerson, says it is a new move in the right direction in support of open-source development. He cautions users to stay tuned for more open software and tools to come as part of Microsoft’s special Anniversary Update to Windows 10.