Raft WSL August Update - Launch WSL Settings

Raft WSL 24.08.1

We're excited to announce the latest update to Raft WSL, packed with new features and improvements to enhance your WSL experience. Here’s what’s new in version 24.08.1:

New Distro View

Introducing a new streamlined view specifically designed for users with a limited number of distros installed. This view simplifies navigation and allows for easier management of your distributions.

WSL Settings Launch Support

You can now launch WSL Settings directly from Raft, provided you’re running WSL version 2.3.11 or newer. This feature is still in preview, but it’s a step towards giving you more control and flexibility over your WSL environment.

Windows Terminal Profile for Ubuntu

We’ve fixed an issue where Raft would not correctly launch the Windows Terminal profile for Ubuntu. This update ensures that your terminal sessions start seamlessly with the correct profile every time.

Other changes

Added

• Oracle Linux Support: We've added support for Oracle Linux versions 9.4, 8.9, and 8.10, expanding your options for enterprise-grade distributions within WSL.

• openSUSE Support: Raft now supports openSUSE Leap 15.6 and openSUSE Tumbleweed on ARM64, offering a broader range of SUSE-based distributions for your development needs.

• SUSE 15 SP6 Support: Support has also been added for SUSE 15 SP6, ensuring you can work with the latest and most secure versions of this enterprise-focused Linux distribution.

Full Changelog here

We’re committed to continuously improving Raft WSL, and your feedback is invaluable. Try out these new features and let us know how they’re working for you. As always, stay tuned for more updates and improvements in the future!

Thank you for using Raft WSL, and happy coding!

For suggestions, feedback, bug reporting click here.

-The Pengwin Team

Raft WSL July Update - Import distros from files

Raft WSL 22.7.4

Import distros packed as tar files.

Tar files can be obtained from Docker containers or exported from WSL distros. Plenty of instructions to obtain them are all over the internet for your desired distro.

Raft WSL will set it up

With the most popular distributions, Raft WSL will assist you to configure it, creating a default user, and other things depending on the distro.

Improved the subscription process

If you are not still subscribed, you can try Raft for 30 days without limitations and compromise because now a payment method is not required to try it. So, Why not try it right now?

Other changes (since the November update)

• Partial Arch Linux support

• Partial CBL Mariner support

• Support for AlmaLinux 9 & 8

• Support for openSUSE Leap 15.4

• Support for SUSE 15 SP4

• Support for Oracle Linux 8.6 & 7.9

• Every distro that is Debian or Fedora based is recognized based on the ID_LIKE field of os-release

• Support for Ubuntu (Preview)

• Support for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

• The Raft icon in the PowerToys Settings now shows correctly

• Fixed an incompatibility issue with PowerToys 0.55.0. Now the required version of PowerToys is >= 0.55.0

• Improve performance by reducing the redundant calls to the WSL API

• Improved look and feel of Settings and Snapshot screens to align better to Windows 11 design

• Improved compatibility with "Windows Subsystem for Linux Preview - Microsoft Store Edition."

For suggestions, feedback, bug reporting click here.

-The Pengwin Team

Raft WSL November Update - Windows 11 styles

Raft WSL 21.11.5

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• Redesigned to match the newest Microsoft styles. Looks great on Windows 11 and Windows 10

WSL Shutdown

NEW: Now, you can shut down the entire WSL by pressing a button. Helpful if you changed the .wslconfig file.

Run as root

NEW: Now you can run a distro as root

Default Distro

Now you can choose the default distro directly in the toolbar

Small install Window

When you install a distro, you'll see a small dialog box instead of the whole Microsoft Store window.

Snapshots

The snapshots screen was redesigned to improve usability.

Other changes

• Fixed an incompatibility with PowerToys 0.45+

• The distro context menu was reordered for better usability. Now the terminate distro action is more accessible.

• Added openSUSE Tumbleweed

• Added Pengwin Enterprise 8

• Improved Pengwin Enterprise and Fedora Remix logos, especially in with the dark theme.

• Fixed a crash on startup when there is no Internet connection

• Fixed a crash when WSL is not installed

• Fix a regression that causes an application crash if Feedback or Rate Us buttons are clicked

• Hide the Rancher Desktop support distributions

• Improve the Alpine logo in dark theme

For suggestions, feedback, bug reporting click here.

-The Pengwin Team

Raft WSL July Update - Improved look and feel

Raft WSL 21.7.3

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• Improved the look and feel of the context menus

• Improved the look and feel of every modal dialog

• Improved RHEL logo

• Improved the visibility when the window is very small

• Fixed a crash when canceling the deletion of a distro

• Fixed a bug that caused in some installations that Store distros couldn't be executed from Windows Terminal

• Added openSUSE Leap 15.3 support

• Added SLES 15 SP3 support

• Improved logos for openSUSE and SLES

• Fixed custom openSUSE Leap distros recognition

Report bugs here.

-The Pengwin Team

Raft WSL June update - Integration with Power Toys Run

Raft WSL 21.5.2 has been released

New! Power Toys Run Integration

PowerToys have a PowerToys Run tool that allows you, by pressing a global keyboard shortcut (Alt+Space), to execute many commands like running programs, open URLs, make calculations, etc.

Now Raft WSL installs a plugin to allow you to manage your distros from the same interface.

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PowerToys Run plugins

After pressing Alt+Space you can begin typing your distro name or if you type $, the list of all your installed distros will appear.

Listing your distros in PowerToys Run

In this interface, you can perform the following operations in your distro:

• Run it in Windows Terminal by clicking the corresponding button or pressing Ctrl+Shift+T

• Run it in Windows Console by clicking the corresponding button or pressing Ctrl+Shift+C

• Run it in the default mode specified in the Raft WSL Settings by double-clicking it.

• Open the distro home folder of the default user in Windows File Explorer by clicking the corresponding button or pressing Ctrl+Shift+E.

• Update the packages in your distro. This is equivalent to apt update && apt upgrade in your distro.

Other changes present in this release.

• If you have Windows Terminal 1.7 or newer, you won't need to "Synchronize Distributions" in Settings to get icons in the menu for Store distros. Instead, they will appear automatically upon you install them.

• Now, opening the distro in File Explorer won't show a black flash window.

• The icon for Opening with File Explorer changed to match the PowerToys one.

• Starting custom distros with changed names now works right in Windows Terminal.

• In the Windows Settings -> App Settings, it is possible now to set Raft WSL launch at Windows startup.

• Added definitions for openSUSE Tumbleweed and SLES 12 SP5

Raft WSL March update - Open distro home in File Explorer

Raft WSL 21.3.0 has been released

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Changelog

• A new command button allows opening the distro home directory in File Explorer.

• Improved the Windows Terminal Synchronization when the custom distros are renamed.

• For Custom distros in Windows Terminal will now start with the home directory.

• Added KDE Neon definition

Raft WSL first 2021 version has released with the anticipated custom distros support

We released Raft about one year ago. During this time, we have received feedback, and we understood better our users' needs. Bringing proper custom distros support required us to rethink the user interface. Thinking in after you install your favorite distro, Raft's focus should be the installed ones; we made a UI redesign that allows you to accommodate your custom distros and allows you to concentrate on your installed ones. We also took advantage of this change to incorporate the most recent Fluent Design controls.

Here is the result; we hope that you enjoy the changes.

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Changelog

• Now, the Available and Installed distros are separated, giving more relevance to the installed ones.

• The installed distributions are now grouped by distribution name and grouping; for example, all Ubuntus below the same icon.

• Clicking the distro name or icon shows a short command bar with the most used commands.

• The right-click menu was redesigned to be more intuitive.

• Now, the default WSL version can be selected from the toolbar with one click.

• The main screen now is responsive, reducing the icons and titles to give you more information even if the window is small.

• Added some acrylic effects on the title bar to give a more fluent feeling.

Custom distributions support

• Every distribution you manually imported with wsl --import is now visible and administered from Raft.

• You can rename the imported distros in Raft

• If you synchronize with Windows Terminal, the logos and labels of the custom distros will be migrated as well.

• Now, when restoring a snapshot, a new option will be presented, allowing you to create a new custom distro instead of restoring in place.

• Now, you can specify the default directory for all your newly created custom distros in the settings.

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Miscellaneous

• Added SLES 15.1 and SLES 15.2

• Now, in ARM64, the available distros shown are restricted to the ones available for the ARM64 platform.

• For Custom distros in Windows Terminal will now start with the home directory.

• Added KDE Neon definition

Raft WSL 20.8.4 support WSL2 in WIndows 1903 and 1909

Recently Microsoft announced that WSL2 was ported to the Windows versions that were released in 2019. (WSL 2 Support is coming to Windows 10 Versions 1903 and 1909)

Be sure that you apply the update: KB4566116. Let’s now refresh what improvements you will see once you get WSL2 support:

• Raft will show if your distribution is in WSL 1 or 2: A visual indicator over the distribution will indicate to you which version your distribution is installed.

• Change the default WSL between versions 1 and 2: You can choose every time which version do you want to be used for new installations and for snapshot restoring.

• Change the WSL version for any installed distribution: Your existing distributions can be switched to WSL 2 and switched back to WSL 1. Raft will offer to create a snapshot in case something goes bad.

• Enable WSL 2 support in Windows if it is needed: When you receive your Windows Update, Raft WSL will help you enabling WSL 2 support upon your request.

This update will help you squeeze the best of WSL.

Cheers

Which version is installed

Switching WSL versions

Set version as default

Windows Terminal support comes to Raft WSL 20.8.1

Hello,

After months of work and tests, we are proud to release Widows Terminal support in Raft WSL.

This version includes:

• Run any installed distribution with Windows Terminal instead of the default console.

• Update distro data in Windows Terminal like name and icon.

• Make Windows Terminal the default when you double click a distro in Raft.

• Added OpenSUSE Leap 15.2

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For the next release, we are preparing more Windows Terminal tweaks and something new. Stay tuned!

-Carlos

Raft WSL 20.4.3 released with full support for ARM64 and Ubuntu 20.04

Hello,

After dealing with a bug that prevented Raft to run in ARM64 devices, we could release a fix, and now every characteristic is available on devices like Surface Pro X.

This version includes:

• Full support for ARM64.

• Now Ubuntu 20.04 is listed and can be managed.

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• We made a small UI fix in the restore warning message.

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For the next release, we are preparing Windows Terminal support. Stay tuned!

-Carlos

Raft is ready for WSL 2

If you are in Windows Insider the wait is over, for you Raft will help you with your WSL 2 distributions. If you are in Windows stable you will be ready when you receive the update and Raft will help you in your migration process.

So what’s new in Raft WSL?

Full WSL 2 support:

• Raft will show if your distribution is in WSL 1 or 2: A visual indicator over the distribution will indicate to you which version your distribution is installed.

• Change the default WSL between versions 1 and 2: You can choose every time which version do you want to be used for new installations and for snapshot restoring.

• Change the WSL version for any installed distribution: Your existing distributions can be switched to WSL 2 and switched back to WSL 1. Raft will offer to create a snapshot in case something goes bad.

• Enable WSL 2 support in Windows if it is needed: When you receive your update to Windows 10 2004, Raft WSL will help you enabling WSL 2 support upon your request.

Running indicator: Now Raft put a green dot when your distro is running.

Either you are an insider or use stable versions of Windows this update will help you squeeze the best of WSL.

Cheers

Which version is installed

Switching WSL versions

Set version as default

Raft Roadmap 2020

Raft is a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution manager in native C#/XAML for Windows 10 applying Fluent design principles. Raft makes managing WSL distros on your Windows 10 device easy.

Following are the first things we will be working on in the next year:

• WSL 2 Support: 

  • ✔ Change the default WSL between versions 1 and 2.

  • ✔ Change the WSL version for any installed distribution.

  • Specify the WSL version upon restoring a snapshot.

  • ✔ Enable WSL 2 support in Windows if it is needed.

• Windows Terminal:

  • ✔ Run any installed distribution with Windows Terminal instead of the default console.

  • Offer to install Windows Terminal if it is needed.

  • ✔ Update distro data in Windows Terminal like name and icon.

  • Launch distributions directly by right-clicking Raft WSL in the taskbar.

• GUI applications shortcuts:

  • Have a special section for all the icons available for the applications installed in all distributions.

  • See also separated by distribution.

  • Have the option to create the shortcuts in Start Menu.

  • Launch applications directly by right-clicking Raft WSL in the taskbar.

• Custom distributions:

  • Show any installed distributions that do not have a match to any in the store, in a special section.

  • Offer as many features available with the official distros to the custom ones. (if it is possible)

  • Import any snapshot as a custom distribution.

  • Move distributions to another place (for example from C: to D:)

  • Duplicate distributions. The duplicate becomes a custom distribution.

  • Import a custom distribution from a tar.gz.

  • Have the option to create shortcuts in Start Menu to the custom distros.

  • Launch custom distros directly by right-clicking Raft WSL in the taskbar.

  • Specify where the custom distributions will be installed.

  • All the WSL 2 improvements will apply for custom distributions.

Stay tuned!