The ultimate starter setup

TLDR; This guide will setup WSL2 Ubuntu web development environment with oh-my-posh customization.

Prequesites

1. Install Windows Terminal

   • Download

2. Install the latest version of PowerShell

   • Download

3. Install VSCode

   • Download

Setup WSL2

1. Update to the latest version of Windows before proceeding

2. Navigate to 'Turn Windows features on or off'

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3. Enable 'Windows Subsystem for Linux' and Virtual Machine Platform

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   • Press 'ok', then following the instructions on-screen and restart the system.

4. After the system reboots, Install the latest version of Ubuntu

   • Ubuntu-20.04 Download

5. Launch Windows Terminal, navigate to settings, and change the Default profile to 'PowerShell'

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6. Open Ubuntu, setup a username and password

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7. Switch back to PowerShell and enter the command:
   

   wsl -l -v
   

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  1. If Ubuntu is running on WSL version 1, you'll need to change to version '2', Enter the following command:

  wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 2
  

• if you're not using another OS:
  

  wsl --set-version <os-name> 2
  

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• WSL2 might require a kernel update, if so please follow the link and install. Then run this command again:
  

  wsl --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 2
  

• Download Linux kernel update from MS

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• To make sure everything is running smoothly, restart windows Terminal and run the command:
  

  wsl -l -v
  

• Now WSL2 is setup and you can run the linux kernel directly with:
  

  wsl
  

Customize PowerShell

1. Download Caskaydia Cove Nerd Font from nerdfonts.com

   • Direct Download
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   • Extract zip folder and install all fonts.
   • Then navigate to Windows Terminal Settings, Under profiles select 'Defaults' and change the font to 'CaskaydiaCove NF'
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2. Install Oh My Posh and customize profile

   • Oh My Posh Documentation
   • In PowerShell enter: winget install JanDeDobbeleer.OhMyPosh
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3. Create PowerShell profile
   

   echo $PROFILE
   

• Most likely this folder and file does not exist, you will have to create a 'PowerShell' folder and a 'Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1' file in that location.

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  #command to create a folder
  mkdir PowerShell
  

• change directory to insider the 'PowerShell' folder
  
  

  #creates file
  echo $PROFILE >> Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1
  

• Open file in VS code
  

  code .
  

• Trust author and Install recommend extension

• Replace text with:
  

  oh-my-posh --init --shell pwsh --config ~/jandedobbeleer.omp.json | Invoke-Expression
  

• save changes and restart shell.

• OR

• Install the theme I'm using from Scott Hanselman's Guide

• Download Zip

• Extract zip

• Locate oh-my-posh\themes. For example, my theme folder was found here:
  

  C:\Users\Michael\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\themes
  

• Place ohmyposhv3-v2.json inside themes folder

• Replace text inside Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1 with:
  

  oh-my-posh --init --shell pwsh --config <add file path to theme here> | Invoke-Expression
  

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• Save file and restart shell. Your profile should look something like this:

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Optional Plugins:

1. Terminal-Icons

   • Enter into PowerShell:

   Install-Module -Name Terminal-Icons -Repository PSGallery
   

• Then add the following to $profile
  

  Import-Module -Name Terminal-Icons
  

1. PSReadLine

   • Enter into PowerShell

   Install-Module PSReadLine -AllowPrerelease -Force
   

• Then add the following to $profile
  

  Import-Module PSReadLine
  Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionSource History
  Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionViewStyle ListView
  Set-PSReadLineOption -EditMode Windows
  

Sources:

• Scott Hanselman's guide
• Scott Hanselman's video guide
• WSL2 MS doc
• WSL2 Tutorial
• Oh-My-Posh doc
• PSReadLine Doc