Microsoft Build 2025 brought a wave of exciting announcements for developers, especially those who work with Windows and Linux environments. From new tools to enhanced AI capabilities, here are some key highlights you should know:
✅ WSL is Now Open Source
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) has officially gone open source! Developers can now explore, contribute to, and track updates to the WSL project directly on GitHub via the microsoft/WSL repository. This marks a big step in making Windows a more developer-friendly environment for Linux-based workflows.
🖊️ New Command-Line Text Editor: Edit on Windows
A new command-line text editor, simply called “Edit on Windows,” is coming soon for Windows Insiders. You’ll be able to launch it directly from the terminal using the command:
edit filename.txt
The source code for this tool will also be made available on GitHub in the microsoft/edit repository.
🤖 AI Comes to the Web: Phi-4-mini Integration
Web applications will soon be able to integrate with Microsoft’s Phi-4-mini language model via the Edge browser’s APIs (in Canary and Dev builds). This allows developers to embed AI-powered features such as text writing, editing, and summarization directly into their web platforms.
🛒 No More Fees for Individual Developers on Microsoft Store
Starting in June 2025, individual developers will be able to publish apps on the Microsoft Store without paying any registration fee. Currently, the cost is $19 USD. This move aims to make app distribution more accessible and inclusive for indie developers around the world.
These updates show Microsoft’s continued commitment to empowering developers with powerful, open, and AI-enhanced tools. Whether you’re coding on Windows, working with Linux, or building the next AI-driven app, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year.
Sources: TabNews
