14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 S is an operating system that’s limited to Windows Store apps, but although at first glance it looks like everything that’s published in the Store should work on it, that’s not necessarily true.
In a blog post today, Microsoft’s Rich Turner explains that just because an app is published in the Windows Store, this doesn’t necessarily mean “it’s safe and suitable for running in Windows 10 S.” As a result, there are apps that won’t be allowed on Microsoft’s new OS, and these include command-line apps, shells and consoles.
It’s not hard to see where this is going. Linux distributions, even though they will be published in the Windows Store, will not be allowed to run on Windows 10 S because they are treated like command-line tools that are blocked by default due to security concerns.
Linux distros getting broader access to the OS
UWP apps run in a secure sandbox, while applications that are ported to the Windows Store with Project Centennial are provided with broader access to the operating system, but they are closely verified by the company before getting the go-ahead. Linux distributions, however, are part of a different category.
“Linux distro store packages are an exotic type of app package that are published to the Windows Store by known partners. Users find and install distros , safely, quickly, and reliably via the Windows Store app,” Turner explains.
“Once installed, however, distro’s should be treated as command-line tools that run outside the UWP sandbox & secure runtime infrastructure. They run with the capabilities granted to the local user - in the same way as Cmd and PowerShell do.”
This basically means that Linux distributions won’t be allowed to run on Windows 10 S, as the simple fact that they are treated as non-UWP command-line apps provides them with more access to the system and therefore could create additional security risks that Microsoft does not agree with.
As a result, users who want to run Llinux distributions on their devices shouldn’t stay with Windows 10 S, and in case of buying the Surface Laptop, upgrading to Windows 10 Pro is the thing to do.