Windows Subsystem for Linux

For scripted WSL deployment on current Windows builds, use Microsoft’s documented command-line switches with plain ASCII hyphens. Common enterprise patterns are wsl --install --no-distribution to install WSL without automatically adding a Linux distribution, or wsl --install --inbox --no-distribution when you specifically want the Windows optional-component inbox path instead of the Microsoft Store-delivered WSL package.

Treat the WSL package/update as the tool layer: it updates wsl.exe, but a complete workstation setup may still need the WSL optional features and distribution policy you want. If your baseline should enable WSL without seeding Ubuntu or another distro, add a post-install step that runs wsl.exe --install --no-distribution. For lifecycle checks, wsl --update updates the Store-delivered WSL package and wsl --status reports the default distribution, default version, and kernel/update status.

Official command reference: Microsoft WSL basic commands.