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Re:Run Linux Programs on DOS by Karellen on Sunday April 23, 2023 @06:25PM (#35681298)
I did once see someone who claimed to have knowledge of Windows internals say that "Windows subsystem for X" was a general naming convention for Windows subsystems, e.g. the code that implemented the audio architecture might have been called "Windows subsystem for sound", or similar. And therefore "Windows subsystem for Linux" was the natural extension of this policy for the code that implemented the Linux compatibility architecture.

However, I've had a bit of a web search on a few occasions since then, and not been able to find any concrete evidence to support the existence of any other "Windows subsystem for X" subsystems. So that might have just been a random idiot making stuff up, as far as I can tell. Someone with better searchengine-fu might be able to find something more conclusive though?

Re:Run Linux Programs on DOS by lukeh on Sunday April 23, 2023 @09:29PM (#35682672)
Think it’s a trademark issue, order matters.
Re:Run Linux Programs on DOS by Dalewyn on Monday April 24, 2023 @01:58AM (#35684141)
>and not been able to find any concrete evidence to support the existence of any other "Windows subsystem for X" subsystems.

They were originally known as Microsoft Subsystems[1][2] and encompassed Win32, POSIX, and OS/2.

This was followed by Windows Services for UNIX along with the demise of POSIX and OS/2 subsystems, which was subsequently succeeded by Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Yes, this means Win32 is to this day a subsystem of Windows NT.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_2000_architecture...

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_POSIX_subsystem