MSYS2 vs Cmder

Struggling to choose between MSYS2 and Cmder? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

MSYS2 is a Development solution with tags like bash, package-manager, build-tools, windows-programs.

It boasts features such as Unix-like environment and command line shell (bash), Package manager (pacman) for installing software, Developer tools like gcc, make, autoconf, Ability to build native Windows programs, Interoperability with MinGW and Cygwin and pros including Easy installation and setup, Large collection of packages and libraries, Active community support, Lightweight and fast compared to Cygwin, Allows building Windows programs natively.

On the other hand, Cmder is a Development product tagged with console, emulator, bash, git, portable, developers.

Its standout features include Multiple tabs and splits, Git integration, Unix-style shell (bash, zsh, etc.), SSH client, Vim and Emacs editors, Customizable themes and shortcuts, and it shines with pros like Lightweight and fast, Portable - runs directly from a USB drive, Bundles useful command line tools, More flexible than Windows Command Prompt, Highly customizable.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

MSYS2

MSYS2

MSYS2 is a software distribution and building platform for Windows that provides a Unix-like environment. It includes bash shell support, a package manager, and the tools needed to build native Windows programs.

Categories:
Development Unix-Like Environment
bash package-manager build-tools windows-programs

MSYS2 Features

  1. Unix-like environment and command line shell (bash)
  2. Package manager (pacman) for installing software
  3. Developer tools like gcc, make, autoconf
  4. Ability to build native Windows programs
  5. Interoperability with MinGW and Cygwin

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Easy installation and setup

Large collection of packages and libraries

Active community support

Lightweight and fast compared to Cygwin

Allows building Windows programs natively

Cons

Limited graphical user interface

Can have compatibility issues with some Windows programs

Steeper learning curve than Cygwin for beginners

Updating can break programs built against older libraries

Cmder

Cmder

Cmder is a Windows console emulator that provides Linux/Unix-like terminal functionality. It bundles different command line tools like bash, Git, etc. into one portable executable. Cmder aims to be a user-friendly console emulator for developers on Windows.

Categories:
Development Terminal Emulators
console emulator bash git portable developers

Cmder Features

  1. Multiple tabs and splits
  2. Git integration
  3. Unix-style shell (bash, zsh, etc.)
  4. SSH client
  5. Vim and Emacs editors
  6. Customizable themes and shortcuts

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and fast

Portable - runs directly from a USB drive

Bundles useful command line tools

More flexible than Windows Command Prompt

Highly customizable

Cons

Less fully-featured than native Linux terminal

Some Unix tools may not work perfectly on Windows

Steep learning curve for new users