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gow VS Cygwin

Compare gow VS Cygwin and see what are their differences

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gow logo gow

Gow (Gnu On Windows) is the lightweight alternative to Cygwin.

Cygwin logo Cygwin

Cygwin is a set of tools that provide Linux and POSIX functionality to Windows.
  • gow Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-04
  • Cygwin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

gow features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Gow is a lightweight package that provides essential Unix command line utilities for Windows. It doesn't require a lot of system resources and is easy to install.
  • Convenience
    By bringing many familiar Unix commands to Windows, it makes it more convenient for users who frequently switch between Unix/Linux and Windows environments.
  • No Dependencies
    Gow does not rely on additional software or complex dependencies, making it straightforward to set up and use.
  • Portable
    It's designed to be portable, meaning you can easily add it to different Windows systems without much hassle.

Possible disadvantages of gow

  • Limited Command Set
    Compared to full Unix/Linux environments or more comprehensive tools like Cygwin, Gow offers a limited set of commands, which might not satisfy all user needs.
  • No Ongoing Updates
    The project is not actively maintained, and some commands may not be updated to include the latest features or security patches.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There might be compatibility issues or limitations when using certain commands or scripts that expect a full Unix environment.
  • No Native Shell Integration
    Unlike some Unix emulation environments, Gow doesn't provide a complete Unix shell experience on Windows, which could limit usability for some tasks.

Cygwin features and specs

  • Unix-like Environment on Windows
    Cygwin provides a large collection of GNU and Open Source tools that give functionality similar to a Unix distribution on Windows. This allows for Unix-like programming and shell scripting without leaving the Windows environment.
  • Package Management
    Cygwin offers a robust package management system, making it easy to install, update, and manage various software packages. This streamlines the development and operational workflow.
  • Interoperability
    Cygwin enables interoperability between POSIX and Windows applications, allowing users to run Linux tools and Windows software side-by-side, enhancing cross-platform development.
  • Broad Tool Set
    It comes with a vast array of tools and libraries, including compilers, text editors, and networking utilities, providing a comprehensive environment for developers.

Possible disadvantages of Cygwin

  • Performance Overhead
    Cygwin introduces a performance overhead as it acts as a compatibility layer between Windows and POSIX systems. This can lead to slower performance compared to native Unix/Linux environments.
  • Complexity
    Setting up and maintaining Cygwin can be complex, especially for new users unfamiliar with Unix/Linux environments. Additional steps are required for configuration and management.
  • Partial Emulation
    While Cygwin offers a Unix-like environment, it doesn’t provide full compatibility with all Unix/Linux programs. Some applications may not run properly or may require additional tweaks.
  • Resource Intensive
    Cygwin can be resource-intensive, consuming significant memory and CPU resources, which might affect the performance of the host system, particularly on less powerful machines.

gow videos

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Cygwin videos

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Cygwin Review Part 1: Running Linux programs... on Windows?

More videos:

  • Review - Cygwin Review Part 2 - it didn't quite go to plan, again!
  • Review - What is Cygwin? | How does Cygwin work?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to gow and Cygwin)

gow

Cygwin

Terminal Tools
20 20%
Terminal Tools
80% 80
SSH
8 8%
SSH
92% 92
Server Management
11 11%
Server Management
89% 89
Emulators
100 100%
Emulators
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare gow and Cygwin

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Cygwin Reviews

10 Termux Alternatives
Cygwin is open-source software with a collection of GNU and provides all functions similar to the Linux shell environment on windows. This software also has the functionality of API manager that has premium packages to have complete control on your files and move them to other software based on your requirement. This app also has the functionality of editing different files...
Source: www.justalternativeto.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cygwin should be more popular than gow. It has been mentiond 12 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

gow mentions (4)

  • The world if Windows was POSIX compliant
    And if need so much something like this, you can always use WSL or GOW (https://github.com/bmatzelle/gow). Source: over 2 years ago
  • how the fuck does this make any sense?
    Use gow, and WindTerm; and if you want an even better experience install lsd, fd, and lf all of which are downloadable via Chocolatey, the Windows package manager. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • If Fuchsia eventually makes its way into the desktop/laptop space, do you think it will support Linux-like commands for the terminal?
    ¹ Bash was ported natively, zsh runs through mingw quite well. ² https://github.com/bmatzelle/gow. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Limit image count number by deleting old image tags via FIFO-principle?
    Ah, you're on Windows, so you don't have those utilities. Looks like these days, folks are using GoW (GNU on Windows) to install some useful GNU utilities on Windows machines: https://github.com/bmatzelle/gow. Source: over 4 years ago

Cygwin mentions (12)

  • dotnet cross-platform interop with C via Environment.ProcessId system call
    Altough, built-in libc on Windows doesn't support POSIX API and dotnet uses WinAPI instead, POSIX support can be added externally via cygwin, WSL or MinGW. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Bash vs. Zsh: Key differences and when to use each
    Download Cygwin from the official site by first downloading the .exe file. Click on the downloaded .exe file to get the full package: During installation, type in Zsh as the shell you want to get, and click Next:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Groovy 🎷 Cheat Sheet - 01 Say "Hello" from Groovy
    Alternatively, you can use sdkman. A great tool to install your Software Development Kit. The downside is that it only works on *nix systems. So for Widnows users, you will have to use WSL or Cygwin as the official page suggests. It is really simple to use sdkman. After a successful installation, just type those commands into your *nix shell:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How do you even get started programming in c++ on Windows?
    You could try Cygwin. I never leave home without it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What exactly IS gitbash?
    It's launching MSYS2, which is in turn based on cygwin, which is a collection of common Linux utilities built for windows and an incomplete POSIX abstraction layer. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing gow and Cygwin, you can also consider the following products

MSYS2 - A Cygwin-derived software distro for Windows using Arch Linux's Pacman

MobaXterm - Enhanced terminal for Windows with X11 server, tabbed SSH client, network tools and much more

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

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

Toybox (Linux command line utilities) - Toybox combines common Linux command line utilities together into a single BSD-licensed executable...

PowerShell - Download WMF. Windows Management Framework contains the latest versions of PowerShell, DSC, WMI, and WinRM for older versions of Windows. PowerShell Module Browser. Search for PowerShell modules and cmdlets.

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