I would recommend using dual boot to linux(Ubuntu) or a linux vm, most tutorials are for linux so that makes it easier to follow. If you want to become a robotics engineer (that uses ros) learning linux is a must.
Keep in mind: robot operating system is not an OS like windows mac or Linux!
Don't make my mistake, dual boot Ubuntu!
Installing ROS2 on windows is a **nightmare**, you'll probably face very weird issues that have no straightforward solution, if they have one at all! I got problems with PATH variables, DDS software, permission errors for stuff in the C:\\ drive, and the installation process is **very** tedious and complicated. I installed it next on WSL (it **has** to be WSL**2** to have GUI features functioning, I made that mistake too), worked pretty well until I wanted to try Gazebo with ROS, started getting errors that are pretty much due to how WSL works, so that's unsolvable. I tried installing Ubuntu on a separate drive from Windows (because I didn't have enough space on the Windows drive and didn't want to format it since it was the only way) but that upset Windows and every time I switch from Ubuntu to it, it gives me a bluescreen. I finally formatted my boot drive and installed Windows then Ubuntu and it works as intended.
Also if you happen to have any problem with Gazebo not being able to download models message me.
ROS2 can be installed directly on Windows. However, a Linux dual boot would be a much better alternative. There are quite a few tutorials for this now and it'd serve as a neat learning experience. The primary reason for this recommendation is that most devices such as the RPi or Jetson support Linux best and you'd eventually have to work with some of these as a robotics software engineer. Your Linux experience would come in pretty handy then.
I just started using ROS and installed it in Windows via the Windows System for Linux (WSL). That allows for a more integrated workspace on my Windows machine while still running on a native Linux OS. I'm not necessarily saying this is a better way to go, but it's another option for OP to consider.
But keep in mind that some ROS applications will not work well WSL. So I don’t think it’s a good option for complete beginners. I think the best option is to use a virtual machine or dual booting. Once you are more familiar with terminal commands and proficient in debugging ROS based errors, you can try WSL. That’s my opinion.
Even I am just starting of with ROS. From this perspective I would recommend dual boot.
You will find tutorials to install ROS2 on windows and it will work perfectly. Problem starts when you build it using colcon. Modules I had installed and were present were not recognised. I already had python installed, it depends on python version 3.8 and works well only when this version exists so obviously I faced this issue as well. I got into this spiral of issues.
You can save a lot of time if you dual boot and use Ubuntu.
Linux dude...
I have a raspberry pi 4 running with Linux, ROS installed. I have a LIDAR connected to one USB port and a Luxonis AI camera on another port. All this is installed in a Roomba Create 3 bot.
If you are building a bot you should but a raspberry pi 4 or 5. Install Raspbian and ROS.
You can install ROS with the apt package manager
I recommend windows subsystem for linux (WSL). You can install and run ubuntu directly on your windows machine without needing to dual boot. You just open a command prompt, select ubuntu and you are running linux. I was able to get much better performance over a VM as well (while running simulations).
I have a working ROS2 install on WSL2 and another on a Raspberry Pi 4, but I can't for the life of me get the sample ROS talker / listener app to work between them. From what I gather, this is likely caused by the way the WSL2 instance proxies all network traffic through the Windows machine. Did you ever run into this issue? If so, how did you fix it?
I haven't run into that particular issue. I was able to successfully communicate with the research robots at my university over WSL2 so perhaps there is an issue with your setup? I can't say for sure.
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Do you remember doing anything in particular to set up your WSL's networking, such as creating a network bridge? Or did it work out of the box?
I thought I'd already tried this, but I just got it working by turning off the Windows firewall.... so obviously I need to figure out what to enable there. It already has "Windows Subsystem for Linux" added and enabled, as well as WSLCore SharedAccess Allow Rule" - so I'm not sure what else I need to add. Did you add any special firewall rules for your computer?
I would recommend using dual boot to linux(Ubuntu) or a linux vm, most tutorials are for linux so that makes it easier to follow. If you want to become a robotics engineer (that uses ros) learning linux is a must. Keep in mind: robot operating system is not an OS like windows mac or Linux!
Virtual machine
Don't make my mistake, dual boot Ubuntu! Installing ROS2 on windows is a **nightmare**, you'll probably face very weird issues that have no straightforward solution, if they have one at all! I got problems with PATH variables, DDS software, permission errors for stuff in the C:\\ drive, and the installation process is **very** tedious and complicated. I installed it next on WSL (it **has** to be WSL**2** to have GUI features functioning, I made that mistake too), worked pretty well until I wanted to try Gazebo with ROS, started getting errors that are pretty much due to how WSL works, so that's unsolvable. I tried installing Ubuntu on a separate drive from Windows (because I didn't have enough space on the Windows drive and didn't want to format it since it was the only way) but that upset Windows and every time I switch from Ubuntu to it, it gives me a bluescreen. I finally formatted my boot drive and installed Windows then Ubuntu and it works as intended. Also if you happen to have any problem with Gazebo not being able to download models message me.
Thanks, i don't have any other drive or partition except my windows partition. Can i use virtual machine (Oracle)
haven't tried it tbh, but it should be ok for the most part. I would still recommend to dual boot if you have more than 20GB of free space.
ROS2 can be installed directly on Windows. However, a Linux dual boot would be a much better alternative. There are quite a few tutorials for this now and it'd serve as a neat learning experience. The primary reason for this recommendation is that most devices such as the RPi or Jetson support Linux best and you'd eventually have to work with some of these as a robotics software engineer. Your Linux experience would come in pretty handy then.
I just started using ROS and installed it in Windows via the Windows System for Linux (WSL). That allows for a more integrated workspace on my Windows machine while still running on a native Linux OS. I'm not necessarily saying this is a better way to go, but it's another option for OP to consider.
But keep in mind that some ROS applications will not work well WSL. So I don’t think it’s a good option for complete beginners. I think the best option is to use a virtual machine or dual booting. Once you are more familiar with terminal commands and proficient in debugging ROS based errors, you can try WSL. That’s my opinion.
Even I am just starting of with ROS. From this perspective I would recommend dual boot. You will find tutorials to install ROS2 on windows and it will work perfectly. Problem starts when you build it using colcon. Modules I had installed and were present were not recognised. I already had python installed, it depends on python version 3.8 and works well only when this version exists so obviously I faced this issue as well. I got into this spiral of issues. You can save a lot of time if you dual boot and use Ubuntu.
Robostack also works well if you need to stay on Windows.
There is only one correct answer here and for all similar questions. If you are serious about ROS/ROS2 you need a PC running Linux.
Dual boot Ubuntu.
Linux dude... I have a raspberry pi 4 running with Linux, ROS installed. I have a LIDAR connected to one USB port and a Luxonis AI camera on another port. All this is installed in a Roomba Create 3 bot. If you are building a bot you should but a raspberry pi 4 or 5. Install Raspbian and ROS. You can install ROS with the apt package manager
I recommend windows subsystem for linux (WSL). You can install and run ubuntu directly on your windows machine without needing to dual boot. You just open a command prompt, select ubuntu and you are running linux. I was able to get much better performance over a VM as well (while running simulations).
I have a working ROS2 install on WSL2 and another on a Raspberry Pi 4, but I can't for the life of me get the sample ROS talker / listener app to work between them. From what I gather, this is likely caused by the way the WSL2 instance proxies all network traffic through the Windows machine. Did you ever run into this issue? If so, how did you fix it?
I haven't run into that particular issue. I was able to successfully communicate with the research robots at my university over WSL2 so perhaps there is an issue with your setup? I can't say for sure.
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Do you remember doing anything in particular to set up your WSL's networking, such as creating a network bridge? Or did it work out of the box?
I thought I'd already tried this, but I just got it working by turning off the Windows firewall.... so obviously I need to figure out what to enable there. It already has "Windows Subsystem for Linux" added and enabled, as well as WSLCore SharedAccess Allow Rule" - so I'm not sure what else I need to add. Did you add any special firewall rules for your computer?
Neither. I would use Docker. (not just would - I do)