The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new Windows 10 feature that enables you to run native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows.
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Cygwin Alternatives
Cygwin is described as 'Unix-like environment and command-line interface for Microsoft Windows. Cygwin provides native integration of Windows-based applications, data, and other system resources with applications, software tools, and data of the Unix-like environment' and is a very popular app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Cygwin for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Android apps. The best Cygwin alternative is Windows Subsystem for Linux, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Cygwin are MSYS2, MinGW, WindTerm and BusyBox.
Alternatives list
35 Windows Subsystem for Linux alternatives
20 MSYS2 alternativesMSYS2 is an independent rewrite of MSYS, based on modern Cygwin (POSIX compatibility layer) and MinGW-w64 with the aim of better interoperability with native Windows software.
Comments about MSYS2 as an Alternative to Cygwin
It's fundamentally the same thing
Because it's based on MSYS (which is based on modern CygWin and MinGW-w64), also it has a nice package manager.
- MSYS2 is Free and Open Source
23 MinGW alternativesMinGW ("Minimalistic GNU for Windows") is a port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and GNU Binutils. It provides a complete Open Source programming toolset which is suitable for the development of native MS-Windows (x86) applications, which do not depend on any...
Comments about MinGW as an Alternative to Cygwin
more integrated with Windows
- MinGW is Free and Open Source
Comments about WindTerm as an Alternative to Cygwin
Nuncio BitisWindTerm is a terminal. Cygwin is a Linux environment for Windows.
- WindTerm is Free and Open Source
- WindTerm is Lightweight
9 BusyBox alternativesSingle compact binary offering essential Unix utilities for embedded, rescue, and custom Linux builds, supporting Android, FreeBSD, and devices with limited memory and storage. Includes networking, shell, and file handling tools for streamlined deployment.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Platforms
- Mac
- Linux
- Android
- BSD
- FreeBSD
- Android Tablet
Would you like to use a linux-like console on a Windows host without a lot of fuzz? Try out babun!
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Alerts
- Discontinued
Platforms
- Windows
- Git
- Cygwin
- zsh
+1
Comments about Babun as an Alternative to Cygwin
yphastosMuch easier setup than Cygwin, with most of what you'll need.
- Babun is Free and Open Source
MinC has a tiny kernel emulation (285Kb) which runs on Windows. The rest of the software was taken verbatim from OpenBSD, version 6.1. This means that by installing MinC, you run OpenBSD on your Windows machine at native speed.
A terminal emulator application for Android 8+ OS extendible by variety of packages, with Monet support and experimental features.
Cooperative Linux (short-named coLinux) is the first working free and open source method for optimally running Linux on Microsoft Windows natively.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Alerts
- Discontinued
Platforms
- Windows
TCC/LE is a complete CMD replacement, and is compatible with your existing Windows command prompt and CMD batch files, while adding thousands of new features.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Proprietary
Platforms
- Windows
China
Netherlands
EU
Israel
Forked from Cygwin with a nice package manager