Set up Windows 11 around the software you plan to build: use Windows tools for Windows-targeted projects, add WSL 2 when you need a Linux environment, and use Dev Containers only when a project calls for a shared, reproducible toolchain. You do not need to enable every developer feature or install a full stack before you begin.
1. Choose the development environment you need
First decide where your software will run and which tools the project expects. Native Windows tools are a natural fit for Windows applications. WSL 2 provides a Linux environment for Linux toolchains and workflows. Some projects use both, while a Dev Container can define a consistent set of tools for contributors.
- Windows-targeted work: start with Windows applications and SDKs required by your project.
- Linux-targeted work: add WSL 2 and install the project’s tools inside the Linux distribution.
- Shared project environment: consider Dev Containers if the repository supplies or requires a container configuration.
Developer Mode is not a general prerequisite for web or cross-platform development. Microsoft describes it primarily as a feature for developing, deploying, and testing Windows apps. On Windows 11 version 25H2 and later, developer settings are under Settings > System > Advanced; earlier releases expose them through Settings search for “For developers.” See Microsoft’s Windows developer overview.
2. Update Windows and install your core tools
Install available Windows updates, then add only the tools your workflow needs. WinGet, Windows’ package manager, can search for, install, upgrade, remove, and configure applications. Microsoft’s examples include Git, Visual Studio Code, and Docker Desktop. For repeatable setups, WinGet Configuration lets you declare packages and Windows settings in YAML; review the configuration resources before applying them. The Microsoft Windows developer overview covers these options.
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Install the language runtime, SDK, database, or other dependencies specified by the project rather than treating one collection of tools as mandatory for every developer. If you work on several machines or need colleagues to reproduce a setup, Microsoft also documents Windows Developer Configurations.
3. Add WSL 2 when you need Linux
If your project uses Linux commands, Linux-targeted tooling, or a Linux runtime, WSL 2 provides a Linux environment on Windows. From PowerShell or Command Prompt, run:
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wsl --install
Microsoft says this command enables WSL and Virtual Machine Platform, installs the latest Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default, and installs Ubuntu by default. A restart may be required. You can install other distributions from the Microsoft Store or import one. Follow Microsoft’s WSL development environment guide for distribution setup and development configuration.
WSL is optional: skip it if your project’s required tools run natively on Windows and you do not need a Linux environment.
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4. Use Windows Terminal for command-line work
Windows Terminal hosts command-line environments, including installed WSL distributions, and supports tabs and panes. It comes pre-installed on Windows 11, according to Microsoft’s VS Code with WSL guide. Microsoft recommends it as a companion for working with multiple command lines; its WSL setup guide explains how it fits into a WSL workflow.
5. Connect Visual Studio Code to WSL
For a project that lives in WSL, install Visual Studio Code on Windows and add the WSL extension. Open the project from its WSL shell so the editor works with the Linux-side files and tools:
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- Install Visual Studio Code on Windows.
- Install the WSL extension in Visual Studio Code.
- In the WSL terminal, change to the project directory and run
code ..
The extension supports working with Linux tools, extensions, debugging, and project files inside WSL. Microsoft’s VS Code with WSL tutorial walks through the connection. Microsoft also documents Visual Studio support for cross-platform C++ development with WSL in its WSL setup guide.
6. Install Git and project-specific dependencies
Install Git in the environment where the project runs: for example, in Windows for a native Windows project or inside the Linux distribution for a WSL-based project. Avoid splitting a project’s source-control and build workflow across environments unless the project needs that arrangement.
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Microsoft’s WSL setup guide covers Git, credential management, ignore files, and line endings. Then add the project’s specified language runtime, SDK, database, and other dependencies. Their exact choices depend on the software you are building.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. Use Dev Containers when the project calls for them
A Dev Container can define tools, extensions, and settings that project contributors share. On Windows, Microsoft lists these prerequisites: WSL 2, Docker Desktop configured to use the WSL 2 backend, Visual Studio Code, and the Dev Containers extension. It is an optional project workflow, not a requirement for ordinary Windows development.
For Dev Container projects, keep the project files in the WSL filesystem—for example, under /home/<user>/projects—rather than on the Windows filesystem. Microsoft’s Windows Dev Containers guide says this avoids the slower cross-OS file-sharing path and improves I/O performance.
8. Consider Dev Drive only for suitable local workloads
Dev Drive is an optional ReFS volume intended for development files such as repositories, package caches, and build output. It is separate from WSL and is not a prerequisite for using Linux tools. Microsoft’s Dev Drive guide lists the following requirements and recommendations:
- Windows 11 build 22621.2338 or later.
- At least 50 GB of free disk space.
- Local administrator permissions.
- At least 8 GB of memory; Microsoft recommends 16 GB.
Microsoft says Dev Drive is available across Windows SKU versions. Enterprise security policy may require administrator configuration. These thresholds describe the feature’s requirements and recommendations; they do not mean you need to buy additional storage to develop on Windows.
Quick Recap
Which setup path should you choose?
| Need | Practical setup |
|---|---|
| Build Windows software | Use native Windows tools and install the project’s required SDKs and dependencies. |
| Use Linux tools or target Linux | Add WSL 2 and install the project toolchain in the Linux distribution. |
| Open a WSL project in VS Code | Install VS Code on Windows, add the WSL extension, then run code . from the project directory in WSL. |
| Match a project’s shared toolchain | Use its Dev Container configuration; on Windows, set up the documented WSL 2, Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend, VS Code, and extension prerequisites. |
| Speed up selected local development files | Consider Dev Drive if the machine meets Microsoft’s requirements and the workload benefits from a dedicated ReFS volume. |
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