Stage 1 · Lesson 3 of 8
Where your files should live
WSL and Windows can each see the other's files. From Ubuntu, your Windows C: drive appears at /mnt/c. From Windows, your files appear under \\wsl$.
Microsoft's advice is simple: keep projects on the same side as the tools that work on them. If you run Linux tools, keep your code in your Linux home, such as ~/code, not in /mnt/c/Users/.... Reaching across to the other side is much slower.
Tools that watch files for changes can miss them, and (the read, write and run rules on each file) behave oddly. You can still use Windows apps on Linux files: explorer.exe . opens the current Linux folder in , and code . opens it in .
Common trapcloning a onto the Windows side and wondering why installs take minutes.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- GuideFreeWindows Subsystem for Linux Documentation
Microsoft · Beginner
Microsoft's own install and best-practice guides for WSL, including where to store files and VS Code set-up
- GuideFreeThe Linux Command Line for Beginners (Ubuntu)
Canonical · Beginner
A short, friendly first hour in the Ubuntu shell once your terminal is working
Keep handy
Also worth your time
- roadmap.sh: LinuxGo deeper
A map of the whole Linux topic, to see how much there is beyond this stage