Debian 1.12.2.0 is the Debian command line environment packaged for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and it is free. The download goes to the official server publicwsldistros.blob.core.windows.net; TopDown APK does not host the file. It installs as a Windows app and gives you a terminal, not a desktop.
The Debian Project behind the WSL package
The app comes from The Debian Project, whose site is debian.org. The source code sits on the Debian Gitlab instance at salsa.debian.org, under the debian/WSL repository. The package ID is Debian.Debian, and the license is Freeware. The app is free.
A help page lives in the Debian Wiki under the WSL installation entry.
What you get inside the WSL console
The package provides a complete Debian command line environment with a full current stable release. After installing, you start the console from the "Debian" tile in the start menu, or by typing "debian" in PowerShell or cmd.
Updating is done by hand with two commands: sudo apt update, then sudo apt dist-upgrade.
Windows 10 minimum and the WSL prerequisite
The app requires Windows 10 as a minimum. The installer is 166.9 MB, and the last update date is October 16, 2024.
If this is your first WSL app, you may need to enable WSL first. On a managed machine, contact your device administrator. Microsoft's install guide is linked from the app description.
Debian pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with a Freeware license
- Full current stable Debian command line environment
- Downloads from the official server, publicwsldistros.blob.core.windows.net
- Source code is public on the Debian Gitlab instance
- Starts from the start menu tile or by typing "debian"
Cons
- Needs WSL enabled first, which may require an administrator
- Command line only, with no graphical interface
- Updates are manual through apt commands
- Version 1.12.2.0 has no published changelog
Is Debian safe?
The installer for Debian is fetched from publicwsldistros.blob.core.windows.net, the official server, rather than from our own storage. It is published by The Debian Project as freeware, version 1.12.2.0, and runs on Windows 10 or later. No scan results are on file for it, so run your own antivirus check on the download before opening it.
How to install Debian
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Debian from the Start menu.
