Microsoft continues its big Linux push at Build 2026

https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/d526ad543c5dc1f1961c5c2237057c4d68c21651/2026/06/04/106f3a3c-9e92-4943-9f30-75112f366ce2/build.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200

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ZDNET's key takeaways

  • Microsoft is becoming more of a Linux company.
  • Linux now spans Azure, Windows, and AI workstations.
  • AI is pushing Microsoft deeper into Linux.

Microsoft Build 2026 was not Steve "Linux is a cancer" Ballmer's Build. Instead, Microsoft announced the arrival of Azure Linux 4.0, a general-purpose Linux server, Azure Container Linux, Windows 11 customized for developers that incorporates Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a high-end AI workstation that comes preconfigured with WSL 2, native GPU passthrough, and full Nvidia CUDA support.

Also: Microsoft surprises with its first server Linux distribution: Azure Linux 4.0

Why? Besides the demand for Linux on the server and cloud -- today Linux is the most popular operating system on Azure-- AI development runs on Linux. There are no competitors. It's that...

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