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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.

What is 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 command line tools
  • Pacman package manager with thousands of packages available
  • GCC and other development tools to build native Windows programs
  • Easy interoperability with existing Windows tools and infrastructure
  • Active community providing updates and support

MSYS2 makes it easy to port Unix software to Windows, build native Windows software with Unix build chains, and get a complete Unix-like experience without needing to dual boot. It is commonly used for running command line interfaces, building from source code, and developing cross-platform applications on Windows.

The Best MSYS2 Alternatives

Top Apps like MSYS2

MobaXterm, Termux, Windows Terminal, PuTTY, Cygwin, PowerShell, ConEmu, Cmder, Windows Subsystem for Linux, KiTTY, Alacritty, MinGW-w64, BusyBox, superconsole, andLinux, csshX, gow, DJGPP, Babun, speedLinux, unxutils, RustyBox, CMD++, TCC/LE, TDM-GCC, Microsoft Windows SDK, Hamilton C shell, PyCmd are some alternatives to MSYS2.

MobaXterm

MobaXterm is a free all-in-one terminal for Windows that bundles many useful remote network tools needed by IT administrators, webmasters, developers and power users into a single portable executable.Key features of MobaXterm include:Multi-tabbed SSH client with SFTP browser and remote editing capabilitiesAll the important network tools (SSH, X...

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 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...

PuTTY

PuTTY is a widely used terminal emulator and SSH client that provides a user-friendly interface for connecting to remote servers and devices. It was initially developed for Microsoft Windows but has been adapted for other platforms as well. PuTTY is known for its simplicity, reliability, and support for various network...

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...

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...

ConEmu

ConEmu is a feature-rich terminal emulator and console enhancer for Windows. It provides multiple tabs and splits in a single window, allowing you to run and switch between multiple console applications. Some key features of ConEmu:Customizable themes and appearance with fonts, colors, background image, transparency etc.Tabbed interface to...

Cmder

Cmder is a command line emulator for Windows that provides a Linux/Unix-like terminal and environment. It bundles together different command line tools like bash, PowerShell, Git, etc. into one portable application.Some key features of Cmder include:Portability - As a single .exe file, Cmder can run directly off...

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...

KiTTY

KiTTY is an enhanced fork of PuTTY, the popular open-source Telnet and SSH client for Windows. It retains the familiar interface of PuTTY while adding many useful features that are missing in the original.Some of the major features added in KiTTY include:Session logging - Ability to log all...

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...

Superconsole

Superconsole is a versatile and feature-rich video game console emulator. It enables users to easily play classic games from over 50 retro gaming systems, including Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Arcade platforms, on modern Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.The software accurately replicates the graphics, sound, and overall gaming experience...

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...

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...

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...

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...

CMD++

CMD++ is an enhanced command prompt for Windows that provides additional functionality beyond the default command prompt included with the operating system.Some key features of CMD++ include:Multiple tabbed interfaces - allows you to open multiple command prompts within one window and easily switch between themBuilt-in text editor -...

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...

Microsoft Windows SDK

The Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) is a free set of development tools, libraries, code samples, and documentation provided by Microsoft to help software developers create applications for Windows operating systems. The Windows SDK allows developers to access the Windows application programming interfaces (APIs) and optimize their software for...

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...