Cygwin

Cygwin is a Linux-like environment and command-line interface for Windows. It provides functionality similar to a Linux distribution on Windows, allowing you to port software running on POSIX systems and run it natively on Windows.

Cygwin alternatives ➤

What is Cygwin?

Cygwin is a large collection of GNU and Open Source tools which provide functionality similar to a Linux distribution on Windows. It provides a Unix-like API, command line tools (bash, ssh, rsync, etc.) and a large number of libraries to port software running on POSIX systems, such as Linux, BSD, and Unix systems, to run natively on Windows.

Key features of Cygwin include:

A Unix-like command line interface and environment for Windows
Ports of common GNU and open source tools like bash, ssh, rsync, gcc, etc.
A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which provides substantial POSIX API functionality
Ability to port software running on POSIX systems to run natively on Windows

Some use cases of Cygwin include providing a Linux-like environment for Windows power users, developers, and system administrators. It's also used in porting software like web servers and games to the Windows platform. Overall, Cygwin aims to bring a lot of Linux functionality to the Windows OS in the form of a collection of tools and libraries.

Official Links

Official Website
cygwin.com

The Best Cygwin Alternatives

Top Apps like Cygwin

Termux, Windows Command Prompt, Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Windows Subsystem for Linux, MSYS2, Alacritty, MinGW-w64, BusyBox, andLinux, WindTerm, csshX, gow, PentestBox, DJGPP, Sakura, Babun, speedLinux, unxutils, RustyBox, Penteract CMD GUI Creator, TCC/LE, TDM-GCC, Hamilton C shell, PyCmd, evilvte, mrxvt are some alternatives to Cygwin.

Sugggest an alternative ❐

Termux

Termux is an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment app that transforms Android devices into powerful, command-line-based computing platforms. It offers a Linux-like terminal interface, enabling users to run Linux utilities, install packages, and perform a variety of tasks typically associated with a Linux environment. Key Features: Terminal Emulator: Termux...

Windows Command Prompt

The Windows Command Prompt, also known as the command line, cmd.exe, or simply cmd, is a text-based application included with all versions of the Windows operating system. It allows users to access the computer's file system, run executable files, and configure certain aspects of the OS using text-based commands...

Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is a modern, versatile, and user-friendly terminal emulator application designed specifically for the Windows command-line interface. Released in 2019 by Microsoft, it comes pre-installed in Windows 11 and is available to download separately for Windows 10.Windows Terminal provides numerous major improvements over the traditional Windows console host. Key highlights include...

PowerShell

PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and an associated scripting language. It provides comprehensive control and automation capabilities for Windows administrators and power users.Key features and capabilities of PowerShell include:Powerful scripting language integrated with the .NET Framework...

Windows Subsystem for Linux

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a compatibility layer developed by Microsoft that allows you to run Linux binaries natively on Windows 10 and Windows 11. WSL provides a Linux-compatible kernel interface developed by Microsoft which allows you to run GNU/Linux programs without having to dual boot or spin up...

MSYS2

MSYS2 is a software distribution for Windows that provides a complete Unix-like environment on top of the Windows OS. It includes support for the bash shell, GNU compilers and build tools, and a pacman package manager for installing additional software.Key features of MSYS2 include:Bash shell and common Unix...

Alacritty

Alacritty is an open-source, cross-platform terminal emulator written in Rust. It uses OpenGL for hardware-accelerated rendering, allowing it to achieve high performance and low latency. Some key features of Alacritty include:Fast terminal rendering thanks to the use of GPU accelerationExcellent performance for workflows involving a large amount of textCompatible...

MinGW-w64

MinGW-w64 (Minimalist GNU for Windows 64 bit) is an open source development environment for Windows that allows you to compile native Windows applications using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC). It provides ports of many GNU development tools and utilities for Windows platforms.Some key features and capabilities of MinGW-w64 include:Works...

BusyBox

BusyBox is a software suite that provides several stripped-down Unix tools and utilities, all bundled together into a single executable file. It was specifically created for embedded operating systems that have very limited resources and space.The main goal of BusyBox is to provide core Unix capabilities and common utilities...

AndLinux

andLinux is a complete Linux distribution that runs seamlessly within Windows. It allows you to install and run a fully functional Linux operating system without the need for a virtual machine or dual boot setup.andLinux is based on Ubuntu and uses the coLinux kernel to provide native Linux compatibility...

WindTerm

WindTerm is a free, open-source, and lightweight terminal emulator for Windows. It aims to provide a modern and user-friendly terminal experience with features such as:Multiple tabbed terminalsHorizontal and vertical split panesCustomizable themes and stylesTransparency effects and background image supportShortcut keys for common operationsSupports PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, Git Bash...

CsshX

csshX is an open source terminal emulator and SSH client developed specifically for macOS. It allows users to create multiple tabs and panes to manage multiple SSH sessions, servers, and accounts simultaneously.Some key features of csshX include:Supports simultaneous connections to multiple remote SSH serversTabbed interface for organizing sessions...

Gow

Gow is an open-source terminal emulator and multiplexer for Linux/UNIX systems. It is designed as an alternative to default terminal emulators like GNOME Terminal or Konsole, with more features and customization options.Some of the key features of Gow include:Multiple panes and split layouts - Gow allows splitting...

PentestBox

PentestBox is an open source Linux distribution based on Debian that comes preinstalled with hundreds of popular hacking and penetration testing tools. It is designed to be run as a virtual machine inside VirtualBox, VMware, or other virtualization platforms to provide an isolated, disposable environment for practicing ethical hacking techniques...

DJGPP

DJGPP (D.J.'s GNU Programming Platform) is a complete 32-bit C/C++ development system for Intel 80386 and higher computers running DOS. It implements a 32-bit protected-mode environment that allows developers to create sophisticated DOS programs that utilize features not available to regular DOS programs.Some key features of DJGPP...

Sakura

Sakura is a free, open source raster graphics editor for Microsoft Windows. It is designed to provide basic drawing and painting functionality similar to Microsoft Paint, but with some additional features.Some key features of Sakura include:Support for layers and layer managementAnti-aliased drawingCustomizable brushes with options for opacity, size...

Babun

Babun is a Windows shell that aims to provide a better command line experience for developers on the Windows platform. It is based on Cygwin, an open source Linux-like environment for Windows, and comes prepackaged with various command line tools and plugins.Some of the key features and tools included...

SpeedLinux

speedLinux is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian and focused on providing maximum performance and speed, especially on low-powered or aging hardware. It uses the Xfce desktop environment and optimizes the system for responsiveness over features.Some key aspects of speedLinux include:Uses a customized, streamlined Xfce desktop that...

Unxutils

unxutils is a collection of common Unix utilities ported to run natively on Windows. It includes over 300 command-line utilities that provide functionality similar to a Linux distribution on Windows.Some of the popular utilities included in unxutils are:grep - search for matching text in filessed - stream editor for...

RustyBox

RustyBox is an open-source alternative to Dropbox written in the Rust programming language. It focuses on providing secure and private cloud storage and file synchronization.Some key features of RustyBox include:End-to-end encryption of all files stored in the cloudDecentralized architecture with no central point of failureOpen source code that...

Penteract CMD GUI Creator

Penteract CMD GUI Creator is a free and open source Windows application used to create graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for command line programs and scripts. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users can easily design form windows, buttons, input fields, and other UI elements.Once the GUI is designed, the application...

TCC/LE

TCC/LE (Total Cost of Ownership/Lifecycle Estimator) is an open source software tool developed by the U.S. General Services Administration to help IT decision makers analyze the total cost of ownership of different types of software solutions. It calculates cost estimates over a multi-year lifecycle to help compare...

TDM-GCC

TDM-GCC is an open-source C/C++ compiler suite and tools for Windows based on the GNU compiler collection (GCC). It includes the GCC compiler, GDB debugger, make, and various other GNU tools and libraries required to build C/C++ applications on Windows.Some key features of TDM-GCC include:Easy installation...

Hamilton C shell

The Hamilton C shell, also known as hcsh or Hamilton shell, is a Unix shell programming language based on the C language. It serves as an alternative shell to the traditionally used Bourne shell (sh), providing additional functionality and features aimed at boosting programmer productivity.Some of the key features...

PyCmd

PyCmd is an open-source command prompt replacement and scripting environment for Windows based on the Python programming language. It provides an alternative to the standard Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe) with additional features and Python integration.Some of the key features of PyCmd include:Ability to run Python scripts and...

Evilvte

evilvte is an open-source virtual terminal emulator for Linux and other UNIX-like operating systems. It is designed to be lightweight, fast, and customizable.Some key features of evilvte include:Written in C and uses GTK+ for the graphical interfaceSupports common terminal emulation standards like VT520/VT100Permits customizing colors, fonts...

Mrxvt

mrxvt is a fork of the rxvt terminal emulator for X11 environments. It is intended to be a lightweight and high-performance alternative to rxvt and other terminal emulators.Some of the key features of mrxvt include:Tabbed interface - allows multiple terminal sessions to be accessed through tabsTransparency and background...