DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

DIGIT-ARC / Software / Software Q&A

Anybody knows about Cygwin ?????

6 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/anybody-knows-about-cygwin.1110/

K
kjayasurya Original post #1
Sep 7, 2004 at 6:53 PM
Hi guys,

I jus wanna know if cygwin ( www.cygwin.com/ ) can be used in place of linux for a beginner, and is it worth downloading :?: (it is appoxly 550mb in size :shock: ) . I also want to know if i can compile all the applications meant for linux on it.

thanx, :)

Surya
S
superwiz #2
Sep 7, 2004 at 8:22 PM
is it some time of Linux?
K
kjayasurya #3
Sep 7, 2004 at 8:36 PM
no its not a linux flavour. Its a linux 'emulator'. After installing cygwin in windows u can run it like any other windows application-within windows itself-instead of partitioning your hdd for linux seperately. U can install bash, sed, awk, and most of the linux applications on it. But there are some disadvantages.....
1) u wont be using linux kernel (obviously),
2) u`ll have 2 compile all linux applications (except those downloaded by cygwin setup) from scratch (source code) for them to be of any use.

..... (plz tell me if there are any more disadvantages). It can be helpful in letting u use linux apps from windows itself.

I wanted more info on this program. Plz help if u know abt it. I really require a suggestion/advice before downloading 550MB of data on my pc.
A
amitsaudy #4
Sep 7, 2004 at 10:02 PM
I want this app on next months DVD...
Raaabo
Raaabo #5
Sep 9, 2004 at 4:06 PM
post in the appropriate thread in the Digit Discussion forum then...
GNUrag
GNUrag #6
Sep 9, 2004 at 4:21 PM
kjayasurya said:
no its not a linux flavour. Its a linux 'emulator'.
Click to expand...
Its nothing related to Linux... It is a UNIX layer... meaning it provides UNIX like functionalities on your windows machine... It uses GNU Tools combined with Cygnus API functions to make GNU utilities work on Windows also...

kjayasurya said:
After installing cygwin in windows u can run it like any other windows application
Click to expand...
not all apps...

kjayasurya said:
there are some disadvantages.....
1) u wont be using linux kernel (obviously),
Click to expand...
the file cygwin1.dll present in the bin directory provides all the native functionalities of Linux kernel... in effect this file emulates the Linux kernel...

kjayasurya said:
2) u`ll have 2 compile all linux applications (except those downloaded by cygwin setup) from scratch (source code) for them to be of any use.
Click to expand...
But you cant just run alls meant for Linux using cygwin... the app has to natively support cygwin

kjayasurya said:
I wanted more info on this program. Plz help if u know abt it. I really require a suggestion/advice before downloading 550MB of data on my pc.
Click to expand...
Yes , its worth downloading and installing it on windows ... you'll get so used to it that you'll start typing ls, clear, bash all the while ...