Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iSH VS Cygwin

Compare iSH VS Cygwin and see what are their differences

iSH logo iSH

The Linux shell on iOS.

Cygwin logo Cygwin

Cygwin is a set of tools that provide Linux and POSIX functionality to Windows.
  • iSH Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-05
  • Cygwin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

iSH features and specs

  • Compatibility
    iSH allows users to run a Linux shell environment on iOS devices, offering compatibility across platforms and enabling the execution of a variety of Linux-based applications.
  • User-friendly
    The app provides an intuitive interface that makes it easy for both beginners and experienced users to navigate and use Linux tools on their iOS devices.
  • Offline Access
    iSH can be used without an internet connection, allowing users to run scripts and perform tasks without needing to be online.
  • Portability
    By allowing Linux to run on an iOS device, iSH adds significant portability for developers and sysadmins who need shell access on-the-go.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source application, iSH encourages community collaboration and transparency, allowing users to contribute or modify the code.

Possible disadvantages of iSH

  • Performance Limitations
    Due to running within a virtualization layer, performance may not match a native Linux environment. Resource-intensive tasks may not performant smoothly.
  • Limited System Calls
    Some system calls are not supported or behave differently in iSH, which could pose a limitation for certain applications or scripts requiring those features.
  • App Store Limitations
    Being subject to Apple's App Store policies could potentially restrict the features or updates available through iSH compared to a regular Linux environment.
  • No Full Desktop Environment
    iSH provides a shell-only environment, meaning users looking for a full desktop experience will not find it in this application.
  • Battery Usage
    Running a Linux shell with iSH can be resource-intensive on mobile devices, leading to increased battery drain compared to regular app usage.

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.

iSH videos

In-depth-ish review of the RS3M 2020 (NEW MAIN!?!?)

More videos:

  • Review - Mistborn - A Spoiler Free -ish Review! The Final Empire
  • Review - Black-ish AF: Review

Cygwin videos

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 iSH and Cygwin)
Terminal Tools
44 44%
56% 56
SSH
20 20%
80% 80
Server Management
14 14%
86% 86
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using iSH and Cygwin. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

iSH Reviews

10 Termux Alternatives
ISH is an app that provides a Linux environment on your IOS device with a keyboard addition that helps you take complete control over your navigation system. It is an explorable project that can control it from remote devices by using some of its simple settings of API endpoints. You can quickly move your files around and edit them according to your specific needs and can...

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...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iSH should be more popular than Cygwin. It has been mentiond 48 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.

iSH mentions (48)

  • Show HN: Lume – OS Lightweight CLI/API for macOS/Linux VMs on Apple Silicon
    You can, with ish (https://ish.app). It is a bit slow though and doesn't support the newest releases. (Well and by default it runs Alpine instead of Debian). - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Poll: When will we see full Linux distros as official iPhone apps?
    I'm a happy daily iSH [1] user, it's an amazing technical project, but I really pine for the day when `apt get blah` will be a reality, using an app available from the official App Store. Be it a paid or free app. CLI only, or with graphics. For concreteness, let's say a Debian-based distro in your iPhone upon tapping Get on Apple's App Store, independently of your location. It is pretty sad that, if... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 10-core
    > in software side of Ipad IOS, that is the biggest innovation in years That would be iSH, slow but functional Alpine Linux emulation for iOS. https://ish.app. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Apple must open iPadOS to sideloading within 6 months, EU says
    > Just imagine how much more versatile the iPad Pro would be if only you could run Linux VMs on it After installing https://ish.app for Alpine Linux emulation on iPad, one immediately comes up with use cases, even though it's excruciatingly slow. Hopefully Apple opens up the imminent M3 iPad Pros to run macOS and Linux VMs. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • How to copy a file between devices?
    Android: install termux, `pkg install openssh`, and preferably run `termux-setup-storage` to give it access to storage folders. iOS: I think https://ish.app/ ? - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

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 / 2 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 / 2 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 / about 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: about 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: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Termux - Terminal emulator and Linux environment for Android

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

UserLAnd - Easiest way to run GNU/Linux Distros on Android - no root required

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

Blink Shell - Super-fast and highly configurable, professional-grade terminal for iOS.

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.