How to use a custom WSL distribution with PhpStorm

1. 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.

1. Move the executable in C:\Users\{USER}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
2. 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.