MinGW Alternatives

MinGW is described as '("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' and is a very popular app in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to MinGW for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, zsh and Android. The best alternative is PowerShell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like MinGW are Windows Terminal, Termux, Cygwin and Alacritty.

MinGW alternatives are mainly Terminal Emulators but may also be Shells or SSH Clients. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of MinGW.

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MinGW

125

Free • Open Source

Windows
Linux
BSD

MinGW ("Minimalistic GNU for Windows") is a port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and GNU Binutils. It...

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PowerShell
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Free • Open Source
Terminal Emulator
Shell
Mac
Windows
Linux
59 alternatives to PowerShell
PowerShell (including Windows PowerShell and PowerShell Core) is a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on the .NET Framework.
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PowerShell Features
1. Support for scriptingPowerShell supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsPowerShell can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
PowerShell Scripting
Optimized for Windows
PowerShell vs MinGW opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
localhoster
MinGW is compiler, PowerShell is not.
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Windows Terminal
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Free • Open Source
Terminal Emulator
Windows
89 alternatives to Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal is a new, modern, feature-rich, productive terminal application for command-line users. It includes many of the features most frequently requested by the Windows command-line community including support for tabs, rich text, globalization, configurability...
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Windows Terminal Features
1. Command line interfaceWindows Terminal either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Tabbed interface
Multiple shells
WSL integreation
Background transparency
Configured in JSON
Customizable
Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
Multiple window layouts
Emoji Text support
Multi-tabs
Windows Terminal vs MinGW opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
TheBlueRuby
While it can be used as a frontend to MinGW, it does not provide a compiler or GNU utilities by default
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Termux
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No
Free • Open Source
Terminal Emulator
Shell
Android
Android Tablet
F-Droid
zsh
Bash
83 alternatives to Termux
Ready to go. Termux works directly with no rooting or setup required. At first start a minimal base system is installed automatically - you decide what to do next.
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Termux Features
1. Support for scriptingTermux supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
2. Command line interfaceTermux either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
MD5 signature
Integrated into iOS
Cygwin
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No
Free • Open Source
Shell
Windows
31 alternatives to Cygwin
Cygwin is a 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.
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Cygwin Features
1. Command line interfaceCygwin either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Linux on Windows
SSH
POSIX-compatible
ANSI color support
Runtime environment
Alacritty
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Terminal Emulator
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
70 alternatives to Alacritty
Alacritty is a blazing fast, GPU accelerated terminal emulator. It’s written in Rust and uses OpenGL for rendering to be the fastest terminal emulator available. Alacritty is available on GitHub in source form.
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Alacritty Features
1. LightweightAlacritty consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Command line interfaceAlacritty either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
GPU Support
Optimal performance
No input delay
MSYS2
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No
Free • Open Source
Terminal Emulator
Windows
38 alternatives to MSYS2
MSYS2 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.
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MSYS2 Features
1. Command line interfaceMSYS2 either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Support for scriptingMSYS2 supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
Command line/bash
Linux on Windows
POSIX-compatible
MSYS2 vs MinGW opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
it provides the latest packages
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Windows Subsystem for Linux
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No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
19 alternatives to Windows Subsystem for Linux
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, alongside your traditional Windows desktop and modern store apps.
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Windows Subsystem for Linux Features
1. Command line interfaceWindows Subsystem for Linux either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Linux on Windows
MinGW-w64
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Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
BSD
10 alternatives to MinGW-w64
The project's goal is to deliver runtime, headers, and libs for developing 64 bit (x64), as well as 32 bit (x86), windows applications using gcc-4.4 or newer versions.
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MinGW-w64 Features
1. PortableMinGW-w64 can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
C++
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MinGW-w64 vs MinGW opinions
TheBlueRuby
MinGW-W64 is a fork of MinGW that is updated more frequently and has support for 64 bit applications as well
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GNU Compiler Collection
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Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Haiku
10 alternatives to GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU toolchain. As well as being the official compiler of the unfinished GNU operating system, GCC has been adopted as the...

GNU Compiler Collection has no features, suggest some!
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Windows Command Prompt
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No
Paid • Proprietary
Terminal Emulator
Shell
Windows
40 alternatives to Windows Command Prompt
Command Prompt, also known as cmd.exe or cmd (after its executable file name), is the command-line interpreter on Windows NT, Windows CE, OS/2 and eComStation operating systems. It is the counterpart of COMMAND.
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Windows Command Prompt Features
1. Command line interfaceWindows Command Prompt either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Support for scriptingWindows Command Prompt supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsWindows Command Prompt can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.