Microsoft introduces open-source Sudo for Windows; works similar to Linux

Microsoft has officially introduced Sudo for Windows. At the core, it's a command line tool that behaves similarly to what's found in Linux and other platforms. It allows the users to execute commands that require elevated administrator permissions.

To compare, the runas command that was already available on the OS allowed running a program as any user, including as an admin when the users chose to. Now, even though the functions of Sudo for Windows are similar to Linux, there are some differences.

For example, instead of requesting a password when the sudo command is executed, Sudo for Windows brings up a pop-up dialog. This pop-up verifies whether you have administrator privileges before running the command.

It should be noted that the new Linux-like feature for Windows is entirely optional and needs to be enabled manually. Sudo is currently available for the Windows Insider program members running the Windows 11 Preview Build 26052. If you are using this version, you can find the "Enable sudo" option in the "For developers" section located in the "System" tab of Windows Settings.

As Microsoft has introduced Sudo for Windows in the Preview build, it should soon make its way to the stable version of the operating system in one of the future updates. But if you're already using the gsudo from developer Gerardo Grignoli, expect to see fewer configuration options.

Although Grignoli's gsudo is not as tightly integrated into the OS, as Microsoft notes, it offers "additional functionality that Sudo for Windows does not provide." Speaking of which, just like gsudo, Microsoft's implementation is also open-source. It already has a repository available on GitHub. You can learn more about the new Windows feature in the video attached below.

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