MSYS2

by MSYS2 Developer Team

Unix and Linux utilities that can be run on Windows

Operating system: Windows

Publisher: MSYS2 Developer Team

Release : MSYS2 3.6.1(20220603)

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MSYS2, an independent rewrite of MSYS, is a port of a collection of standard Unix and Linux utilities that you can put on Windows. Based on modern Cygwin and MinGW-w64, MSYS2 aims for superior interoperability within Windows software. And it provides just that via shells, dev tools, and version control system programs. Because it allows for tools such as GCC, it's quite useful as a way of compiling Windows versions of Unix-like programs, by using MinGW-w64 toolchains.

If you're wondering, the name is a shortening of Minimal SYStem 2, and minimalist is what this program is all about. Granted, you have to know standard Unix commands, but if you do, the interface is a breeze, and commands are quick and responsive. And because MSYS2 offers a package management system - a port of Arch Linux's Pacman - package installation is incredibly easy, and it adds many powerful features, including dependency resolution, simple complete system upgrades, and package building that's straightforward.

Installation and setup are also not that complicated. MSYS2 is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit variants, and depending on which you download and install, that's where you'll find your executable - either MSYS2 will be installed in C:\msys32 or it'll be installed in C:\msys64. You'll also find a folder called "MSYS2 32/64 bit" in your Start Menu, where you'll find the shortcut to launch your MSYS2 shell. Click this, and you'll launch your Bash shell. The shortcut, after all, actually doesn't use Windows' default console window. Instead, it uses a terminal emulator named mintty to run everything.

From there, if you enable System Variables, you can actually access MSYS2 tools from anywhere, including both Windows Command Prompt and the Run (win key + R) box, meaning you can start dropping Unix commands in Windows Command Prompt and using it a sort of Unix shell.

If you're a diehard Unix fan, this may not quite be enough for you, but if you're like Windows and me, just doesn't quite cut it. You want some more than adequate Unix-like tools integrated into your Windows system, MSYS2 is a helpful program that's relatively easy to set up, easy to use. It quickly integrates Unix-like commands and packages into any modern Windows station. And since it's free to use and download and insanely lightweight, it's at least worth the try if you're on the fence.

A collection of standard Unix/Linux utilities ported to Windows
Features:

  • Dependency resolution
  • Based on modern Cygwin
  • Easy installation of packages
  • Hundreds of FOSS packages
  • 32 and 64-bit support
Operating system: Windows 7 or later
Free hard disk space: 5GB or more
Architecture: 32-bit or 64-bit system

PROS
Provides a large selection of up-to-date Unix tools on Windows.
Handles package management and versioning efficiently.
Supports shell scripting and customary Unix commands.

CONS
Complex setup process can deter less tech-savvy individuals.
Requires frequent updates, which can be tedious.
Limited customization compared to other software.
MSYS2 20150916 (54.78 MB)
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Leon
If you need to build or install Windows software then you should check out MSYS2, which is a set of libraries as well as tools that gives you access to the environment you'll need to complete those tasks with ease. Not only does MSYS2 support native builds for CPython and CMake, but it also does so for Rust and Ruby among a host of other options too
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Aaron
MSYS2 is an assortment of different tools and libraries that provides you with a very easy, user friendly environment in order to build building, install and run native Windows software.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Harrison D.
MSYS2 is a software distribution and development platform for Windows. It provides a lightweight, stable and flexible environment for building, developing and running applications on Windows systems. MSYS2 provides a comprehensive set of tools, libraries and development environments that enable users to create and develop cross-platform applications. MSYS2 also provides a package manager to easily download, install and update software packages from the Internet.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Lucas Widgren
MSYS2 software is a great tool to help with development on Windows. It provides an easy-to-use environment to access many popular Unix utilities. The package manager makes it easy to keep up-to-date with the latest versions of software. The installation process is straightforward and only requires minimal user input. The number of packages available is impressive. The documentation is also well written and easy to understand. The support forums are a great resource for finding answers to any questions you may have. Overall, MSYS2 is a great tool for developers on Windows.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Samuel W******f
MSYS2 is an excellent open-source software that provides a Unix-like environment for Windows. It has a quick and easy installation process, and the package manager pacman makes it easy to keep the software up to date. The documentation is comprehensive and helpful. It also offers a wide range of pre-built packages, allowing users to quickly get up and running.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Kayden H*******h
MSYS2 is a great software that makes setting up and managing development environments easy. I found it very useful for my project, although it took some time to figure out the installation process.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Kai Y.
MSYS2 is a software tool that provides a minimalistic environment for building and maintaining software on Windows. It is an open-source project that offers a Unix-like command-line interface and a package manager that allows users to install, update, and remove software packages easily. It also provides a set of development tools and libraries that allow users to compile and build software from source code. The software is designed to be lightweight, efficient, and easy to use, and it is suitable for both novice and experienced users. The software is regularly updated to ensure that it provides the latest features and security fixes. Overall, MSYS2 is a powerful and flexible tool that can help users to develop, test, and deploy software applications on Windows.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Lewis Guld
MSYS2 is a versatile software that provides a Unix-like development environment for Windows systems.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Archie
MSYS2 is a software distribution and building platform for Windows. Its most essential feature is offering a Unix-like environment that makes it easier to port software from POSIX systems such as Linux to Windows. It provides a selection of packages, compilers and libraries, along with a shell allowing Unix-like command-line interactions. This platform simplifies the process of managing and updating applications on a Windows system.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Riley
A versatile and lightweight tool that makes developing on Windows feel almost like Linux.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Robert
Comprehensive, customizable environment; powerful package management.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner Luke
Versatile, comprehensive, user-friendly tool.
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