Getting Started

In order to perform most bioinformatic analyses, users will need access to a Unix or Unix-like operating system. Windows users will need to install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) while Mac users just need access to the Terminal application. Below are instructions for accessing a Unix or Unix-like command line for Windows and Mac users.

Windows (using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL))

  1. Open the Windows Terminal application
  2. Run (i.e. type in) wsl --install (and click enter)
  3. Restart your device
  4. Open Windows Terminal
  5. Run wsl
  6. By default this should open the distribution (Ubuntu by default)

  • If this doesn’t work, you may need to run wsl.exe --install -d Ubuntu and may need to restart your computer again

  • Enter a username and password (does not need to match your computer login)

    • You won’t see what you type in appear on the screen, just hit enter when you are done

  • To log out of the distribution, run exit

  • Every time you open Windows Terminal, you need to run wsl to turn on Windows Subsystem for Linux

Mac (using Terminal)

  1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal)