Anchor the framework for Solana development, currently lacks support for Windows systems. Hence, a Linux environment is required for compatibility with Solana tools and technologies. This article will guide you through installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and other necessary dependencies and technologies, such as Rust, Solana CLI, Node.js, and Yarn, required for Solana development on your Windows system. Prerequisites Windows 10+Good Internet connectionSolana enthusiast Installations You will install Windows Subsystem for Linus (WSL), Rust and Cargo, Solana CLI, Node.js, Yarn, and Vs code. 1) Install Windows Subsystem for Linus (WSL) WSL will allow you to run a Linux environment directly on your Windows system. Open your Powershell in administrator mode and run this command. wsl --install The default wsl distribution, ubuntu, will be installed. Once installation is complete, restart your machine. Confirm your WSL version and distribution. wsl -l -v You should see this: Set up your Linux distribution username and password Go to the search menu on your computer, type Ubuntu, then open it. You’ll be required to create a username and password. Follow the instructions to do so. Be sure to save your password somewhere else. If you run into installation errors or want to install another distribution other than Ubuntu, check WSL's complete installation guide 2) Install Rust and Cargo Rust is the language for writing Solana programs. Cargo is a Rust package manager for managing dependencies, building, testing, and deploying Rust codes. To install Rust and Cargo, run this command on your Ubuntu curl - proto '=https' - tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh Then, Press 1 or enter to complete the installation Once installation is complete, confirm your Rust and Cargo version with the following commands rustc --version cargo --version 3) Install Solana Cl To install Solana, run this command on your Ubuntu sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.solana.com/stable/install)" After the installation is complete, confirm the Solana version using this command solana --version Create your Solana wallet and generate your keypairs. Create a default Solana wallet, generate your keypairs, and request free devnet tokens for your wallet. To create your Solana wallet use this command solana-keygen new create a passphrase Ensure to save your public key(a.k.a wallet address) and passphrase(highlighted below in yellow) in a secure location.Your private key is stored locally on your PC. Request for devnets to deploy your Solana programs. To get 10 Solana devnet tokens for your wallet, run this command Solana airdrop 10 This will send devnet to the default wallet you just created.To send to a different wallet, useSolana airdrop 10 <wallet address> 4) Install node.js If you’ve previously installed Node.js on your Windows, you should consider installing Node.js again specifically within your WSL to ensure compatibility. To Install Node.js using Node Version Manager (NVM) Run this nvm command on your Ubuntu curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/master/install.sh | bash confirm NVM installation command -v nvm you should see this Otherwise, close and reopen your Ubuntu and rerun the command. Install the stable LTS version of Node Js with this command nvm install - lts Confirm the installations of Node.js and npm versions node --version npm --version 5) Install yarn yarn official documentation highlighted corepackas one of the two preferred methods of installing Yarn.npm yarn global installation is not recommended. To install yarn, enable core pack and initialize a yarn project using the following commands npm install -g corepack corepack enable yarn init 6) Install VS Code Download VScode directly from the official website To enable support for the WSL environment in your VSCode, install the WSL extension. To do so, open VScode, click on the marketplace or “Ctrl + shift + x “, then search for and install the Remote — WSL Extension. Additionally, install the ‘rust-analyzer’ extension for Rust language support. 7) Install Anchor Anchor is the Solana framework for writing secure Solana programs. Install Anchor using Anchor Version Manager (AVM) with this command cargo install - git https://github.com/coral-xyz/anchor avm - locked - force Install the latest Anchor version and set it as the default, using the following commands: avm install latest avm use latest Confirm Anchor installation Anchor –version If you encounter any installation error check Anchor's official docs Congratulations 🥳 you are all set to develop on Solana Blockchain Anchor the framework for Solana development, currently lacks support for Windows systems. Hence, a Linux environment is required for compatibility with Solana tools and technologies. This article will guide you through installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and other necessary dependencies and technologies, such as Rust , Solana CLI, Node.js , and Yarn, required for Solana development on your Windows system. Linux Rust Solana Node.js Prerequisites Windows 10+ Good Internet connection Solana enthusiast Installations You will install Windows Subsystem for Linus (WSL), Rust and Cargo, Solana CLI, Node.js, Yarn, and Vs code. 1) Install Windows Subsystem for Linus (WSL) WSL will allow you to run a Linux environment directly on your Windows system. Open your Powershell in administrator mode and run this command. administrator mode administrator mode wsl --install wsl --install The default wsl distribution, ubuntu, will be installed. Once installation is complete, restart your machine. Confirm your WSL version and distribution. wsl -l -v wsl -l -v You should see this: Set up your Linux distribution username and password Set up your Linux distribution username and password Go to the search menu on your computer, type Ubuntu, then open it. You’ll be required to create a username and password. Follow the instructions to do so. Go to the search menu on your computer, type Ubuntu , then open it. Ubuntu You’ll be required to create a username and password. Follow the instructions to do so. Be sure to save your password somewhere else. If you run into installation errors or want to install another distribution other than Ubuntu, check WSL's complete installation guide If you run into installation errors or want to install another distribution other than Ubuntu, check WSL's complete installation guide errors errors installation guide installation guide 2) Install Rust and Cargo Rust is the language for writing Solana programs. Rust Rust Cargo is a Rust package manager for managing dependencies, building, testing, and deploying Rust codes. To install Rust and Cargo, run this command on your Ubuntu curl - proto '=https' - tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh curl - proto '=https' - tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh Then, Press 1 or enter to complete the installation Once installation is complete, confirm your Rust and Cargo version with the following commands rustc --version cargo --version rustc --version cargo --version 3) Install Solana Cl To install Solana, run this command on your Ubuntu sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.solana.com/stable/install)" sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.solana.com/stable/install)" After the installation is complete, confirm the Solana version using this command solana --version solana --version Create your Solana wallet and generate your keypairs. Create your Solana wallet and generate your keypairs. Create a default Solana wallet, generate your keypairs, and request free devnet tokens for your wallet. To create your Solana wallet use this command solana-keygen new solana-keygen new create a passphrase Ensure to save your public key(a.k.a wallet address ) and passphrase( highlighted below in yellow ) in a secure location. Your private key is stored locally on your PC. wallet address highlighted below in yellow Request for devnets to deploy your Solana programs. Request for devnets to deploy your Solana programs. To get 10 Solana devnet tokens for your wallet, run this command Solana airdrop 10 Solana airdrop 10 This will send devnet to the default wallet you just created. To send to a different wallet, use Solana airdrop 10 <wallet address> Solana airdrop 10 <wallet address> 4) Install node.js If you’ve previously installed Node.js on your Windows, you should consider installing Node.js again specifically within your WSL to ensure compatibility. To Install Node.js using Node Version Manager (NVM) Run this nvm command on your Ubuntu curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/master/install.sh | bash curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/master/install.sh | bash confirm NVM installation command -v nvm command -v nvm you should see this Otherwise, close and reopen your Ubuntu and rerun the command. Install the stable LTS version of Node Js with this command Install the stable LTS version of Node Js with this command nvm install - lts nvm install - lts Confirm the installations of Node.js and npm versions node --version npm --version node --version npm --version 5) Install yarn yarn official documentation highlighted corepack as one of the two preferred methods of installing Yarn. npm yarn global installation is not recommended. yarn yarn corepack To install yarn, enable core pack and initialize a yarn project using the following commands npm install -g corepack corepack enable yarn init npm install -g corepack corepack enable yarn init 6) Install VS Code Download VScode directly from the official website official website official website To enable support for the WSL environment in your VSCode, install the WSL extension. To do so, open VScode, click on the marketplace or “Ctrl + shift + x “, then search for and install the Remote — WSL Extension . Remote — WSL Extension Additionally, install the ‘rust-analyzer’ extension for Rust language support. ‘rust-analyzer’ 7) Install Anchor Anchor is the Solana framework for writing secure Solana programs. Anchor Anchor Install Anchor using Anchor Version Manager (AVM) with this command cargo install - git https://github.com/coral-xyz/anchor avm - locked - force cargo install - git https://github.com/coral-xyz/anchor avm - locked - force Install the latest Anchor version and set it as the default, using the following commands: avm install latest avm use latest avm install latest avm use latest Confirm Anchor installation Anchor –version Anchor –version If you encounter any installation error check Anchor's official docs If you encounter any installation error check Anchor's official docs Anchor's official docs Anchor's official docs Congratulations 🥳 you are all set to develop on Solana Blockchain
