First Working Version
The moment the first version runs stably is always a highlight. After setting up the project foundations, the initial
implementation of WslDock came together quickly. The core functionality—keeping WSL alive via sleep infinity—was
surprisingly straightforward.
The Initial Implementation
The first working version included:
- Tray icon with three states (inactive, active, active+SSH)
- Left-click toggle between inactive and active states
- Right-click menu with SSH tunnel toggle, reboot, and exit options
- Config file at
%LOCALAPPDATA%\WslDock\wsl_dock.conf - Hot-reload via filesystem watcher for live configuration changes
Release v0.1.1
The initial release was tagged as v0.1.1 on April 12, 2026. The binary was built with Zig’s ReleaseSmall optimization,
resulting in a compact executable with minimal resource footprint.
Early Observations
Even in this early stage, the tool demonstrated the expected behavior:
- Memory usage: ~1-2 MB (comparable to StayAwake)
- CPU usage: 0.0% when idle
- Binary size: Compact, suitable for direct distribution
The rapid progression from concept to working version demonstrates the power of the C + Zig stack for system utilities. By reusing proven patterns from StayAwake, the focus remained on WSL-specific logic rather than reinventing基础 infrastructure. This is the essence of pragmatic development: build on what works.