pi-wsl

Pi's bash tool is Git Bash. You need Linux, /mnt/c, and \\wsl.localhost to arrive uncorrupted.

This extension spawn()s System32\wsl.exe and runs the command in WSL, so Git Bash never sees the text.

Why this exists

On Windows, Pi's builtin bash tool is Git Bash (MSYS). MSYS rewrites Unix paths and strips quote layers before anything reaches WSL, so a Linux path, a /mnt/c script, or a \\wsl.localhost\... file does not arrive as typed.

Wrapping the call in wsl -d ... -- bash -lc '...' does not fix it, because that string still goes through Git Bash. MSYS_NO_PATHCONV=1 only blocks some path rewrites, while $VARS vanish and nested quotes collapse. \\wsl.localhost\Distro\home\dev\run.mjs becomes C:\wsl.localhost\Distro\home\dev\run.mjs, and Node dies MODULE_NOT_FOUND.

| What you typed | What Git Bash actually ran | | --- | --- | | python3 /mnt/c/proj/sync.py | python3 /mnt/c/Users/.../C:/Program Files/Git/mnt/c/proj/sync.py | | wsl -- bash -lc 'DEST=/tmp/x; mkdir -p $DEST' | DEST empty, mkdir: missing operand | | node "\\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\dev\run.mjs" | Cannot find module 'C:\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\dev\run.mjs' |

Install

Needs Pi on Windows with WSL installed.

pi install npm:@apoapostolov/pi-wsl

Git install still works: pi install git:github.com/apoapostolov/pi-wsl.

Start a new Pi process after install. /reload picks up the code; a pin change needs a restart.

Use it

Ask Pi to run the work in WSL, or call the tool:

command: node --check scripts/module.mjs
cwd: C:\src\my-module

script: //wsl.localhost/Ubuntu/home/dev/bin/qa.mjs
args: ["--world", "demo", "status"]
timeout: 180

Human shortcuts:

/wsl uname -a
/wsl distros
/wsl path C:\\src\\my-module

Prefer this tool over bash when the path is Linux, /mnt/c, or \\wsl.localhost. Pass the raw command, and do not wrap it in wsl -d or bash -lc.

On Win11, if the model still calls builtin bash with those paths, pi-wsl blocks the call and tells it to use this tool. It does not re-run the command through Git Bash. The same hook blocks read / write / edit on \\wsl.localhost and /mnt/<drive>. Set PI_WSL_NO_INTERCEPT=true to disable it.

Drive-letter cwd and script paths go through wslpath -u when WSL is up. A first call wakes the distro. If this WSL build has no --cd, the command is prefixed with cd -- <dir>.

The TUI row keeps the green tool box. Top line: icon and bold WSL (or Debian when that distro is set) plus the command on the left, exit and elapsed time on the right. Output uses > (stderr !) instead of a stdout banner. While it runs, a braille spinner sits on that > line. After 15s with no output the time and mark turn yellow (PI_WSL_STALL_WARN).

Options

| Field | Default | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | command | | Raw bash. Mutually exclusive with script in practice | | script | | File to run. Windows, Git Bash /c/..., UNC, eaten UNC, or Linux path | | args | | Array (quoted) or one string. Windows, UNC, and /c/... items are converted | | cwd | | Converted like script. A UNC cwd also selects that distro | | timeout | 60 | Seconds. Bump it for slow launches. Abort kills the WSL process tree | | distro | UNC, then WSL_DISTRO, then WSL default | Pass distro to force one | | env | | Extra variables inside WSL | | input | | Written to the command's stdin. Use for long JS | | login | false | bash -l | | userBus | true | Sets XDG_RUNTIME_DIR and DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS when unset. Needed for systemctl --user | | crlf | true | For script: copy to /tmp, strip CR, run the copy. Does not edit the original file |

The tool registers on Windows and inside WSL. It does nothing on macOS or native Linux.

What this does not do

Pi's read tool can still return EPERM on \\wsl.localhost\.... Cat the file through this tool, or use a C:\ path.

For PowerShell, cmd, and a doctor, install @bacnh85/pi-windows-tools.

Config

# optional, if you do not want the default distro
setx WSL_DISTRO Debian

Or pass distro on the tool call.

Develop

npm test

Tests cover path repair, UNC distro pick, Git Bash /c/ map, UTF-16LE wsl -l, quoting, env, and the CRLF copy. They do not need WSL.

License

MIT