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by tannhaeuser 3330 days ago
Since Windows 10 now comes with an official Linux subsystem, why not just use POSIX APIs and conventions everywhere, and not bother with Windows-specific code if possible?
3 comments

For one, because the Linux subsystem is an optional install. If you're making anything user-facing you can't rely on it being there - it's really a tool for developers, not end-users.
I'm pretty sure there are already programs out there whose install instructions include activating developer mode and installing WSL Ubuntu.
And it's not even available for server versions...
Depends on what type of application you are making. For a library that can be used in a "real" graphical Windows application, you can't make a posix type shortcut.

I think "if possible" is (at least still) very rarely the case that it is.

Because this leaks to the user. For example, you'll be dealing with paths like /mnt/c/..., which, if you surface it in your UI, will rather confuse someone who expects C:\...

And speaking of UI, that's one major hurdle right there.