How to use a custom WSL distribution with PhpStorm
- Follow the installation instructions (here) BUT rename the launcher the same as one of this
// Found in AppData\Roaming\JetBrains\PhpStorm{YOUR_VERSION}\options\wsl.distributions.xml debian.exe kali.exe opensuse-42.exe sles-12.exe sles-15.exe openSUSE-Leap-15.exe ubuntu.exe ubuntu1604.exe ubuntu1804.exe wlinux.exe pengwin.exe wle.exe Arch.exe openSUSE-Leap-15-1.exe
The reason for this is that all paths for WSL executables are hard coded. So even if you add a custom distribution in wsl.distributions.xml
, it will not work.
The name of the executable is not obligatory the same as the ditribution it run ! You can install Ubuntu with a launcher named debian.exe
and it will work.
- Move the executable in
C:\Users\{USER}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
- Open or reopen Phpstorm and if all is good you can use WSL as an interpreter for PHP and nodejs
Another solution
Another solution can be found here.
Note that this solution seems to not work for everyone.