How to Use Arch-based Manjaro on WSL2

What is Manjaro?

Related article:
Using ArchLinux on WSL2

With the release of Windows 11,
WSL has entered the WSLg era.
Opportunities to use Linux UI on Windows are increasing.

Following this trend, I thought I might be able to use a Linux Desktop on Windows, so I started looking for something good.
The following two candidates came up:

• Pop!_OS
• Manjaro

I tried Pop!_OS, but it didn't work out very well.
So, I decided to try Manjaro to see if it would work.

I previously integrated ArchLinux into WSL via Docker, and since they are in the same family, it should probably work.
Let's try incorporating it into WSL using the official Docker image.

https://hub.docker.com/r/manjarolinux/base

ヾ(・ω<)ﾉ"　三三三●　ⅱⅲ Rolling along♪

------------------- ↓ The main part starts here ↓-------------------

Preliminary preparation

Since Docker is required,
I will install Docker Desktop for convenience.

Run the following command in PowerShell:

winget install Docker.DockerDesktop

Pulling and running what is likely the official image from DockerHub

Pulling it beforehand will cache it.

docker pull manjarolinux/base:latest
docker run --rm -it -t manjarolinux/base:latest

Dockerfile

./Dockerfile

FROM manjarolinux/base:latest

ARG BUILDERNAME=builder
ARG USERNAME=dozo

RUN pacman-mirrors -c Japan,United_States\
 && pacman -Sy\
 && pacman -Syu --noconfirm --needed git sudo wget nano go base-devel
RUN usermod -l ${USERNAME} ${BUILDERNAME}\
 && groupmod -n ${USERNAME}  ${BUILDERNAME}\
 && usermod -d /home/${USERNAME}  -m ${USERNAME} 
RUN usermod -aG wheel ${USERNAME}\
 && passwd -d ${USERNAME}\
 && printf "%%wheel ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL\n" | tee -a /etc/sudoers.d/wheel\
 && printf "[user]\ndefault=${USERNAME}\n" | tee /etc/wsl.conf

RUN localedef -f UTF-8 -i ja_JP ja_JP.UTF-8
ENV LANG="ja_JP.UTF-8" \
    LANGUAGE="ja_JP:ja" \
    LC_ALL="ja_JP.UTF-8"

USER ${USERNAME}

RUN cd \
 && git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay-bin \
 && cd yay-bin\
 && makepkg -si --noconfirm\ 
 && cd .. \
 && rm -rf ./yay-bin

WORKDIR /home/${USERNAME}

September 20, 2022: Updated the Dockerfile.
According to a comment, base-devel seems to be required for the Dockerfile. (Unverified)
Checking DockerHub, it appears that the manjarolinux/base image size was reduced in an update on August 31 of the same year.

Starting the docker build

docker build . -t manjaro:1.0

Exporting the container and importing it into WSL

Get the container ID with docker ps.

docker run -t manjaro:1.0 test
docker ps -a
  CONTAINER ID   IMAGE         COMMAND
  e4c8378ef5ae   manjaro:1.0   "test"

Export the container to a disk image on PowerShell.
Assuming the installation destination is C:\Programs\Manjaro:

docker export -o manjaro.tar e4c8378ef5ae
wsl --import Manjaro C:\Programs\Manjaro manjaro.tar --version 2

Trying to log in to WSL

Let's try logging in.

wsl -d manjaro
$ passwd
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully

(･∀･)(･∀･)

------------------- ↓ Postscript starts here ↓-------------------

The following items have already been included in the aforementioned Dockerfile.
I often find things out later, so I will update this as I go.

Setting the pacman repository to Japan

As with Arch, the slow pacman repository issue persists even after switching to Manjaro.
Last time, I sent requests to the repository site, but it seems there is a command to update it, so I am using that this time.
I also added the United States just in case.

./Dockerfile

RUN pacman-mirrors -c Japan,United_States\
 && pacman -Sy

Installing yay

I will re-post the description for installing yay, which is the Go version of pacman.
When installing ArchLinux, I built it from source, but since there is a binary available, I am using that this time.

./Dockerfile

RUN pacman -Syu --noconfirm --needed go
...
RUN cd \
 && git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay-bin \
 && cd yay-bin\
 && makepkg -si --noconfirm\ 
 && cd .. \
 && rm -rf ./yay-bin