Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

rxvt-unicode VS Cygwin

Compare rxvt-unicode VS Cygwin and see what are their differences

rxvt-unicode logo rxvt-unicode

5. 1 Transparency not working after upgrade to v9. 09; 5. 2 Remote hosts; 5. 3 Using rxvt-unicode as gmrun terminal; 5.

Cygwin logo Cygwin

Cygwin is a set of tools that provide Linux and POSIX functionality to Windows.
  • rxvt-unicode Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-08
  • Cygwin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

rxvt-unicode features and specs

  • Lightweight
    rxvt-unicode is known for its low memory usage and minimal resource consumption, making it an efficient choice for systems with limited resources.
  • Unicode Support
    It provides robust support for Unicode, allowing it to handle a wide variety of character sets and languages, which is particularly useful for internationalization.
  • Customizability
    Users can extensively customize rxvt-unicode using X resources, allowing for a highly personalized terminal experience.
  • Perl Extensions
    rxvt-unicode supports Perl extensions, enabling advanced users to extend its functionality with custom scripts and plugins.
  • Transparency
    It supports pseudo-transparency, which can be visually appealing and useful for certain aesthetic purposes.
  • Performance
    rxvt-unicode is optimized for performance, providing a snappy and responsive experience even under heavy use.

Possible disadvantages of rxvt-unicode

  • Complex Configuration
    The extensive customizability, though a pro for advanced users, can be overwhelming and complex for beginners.
  • Limited Documentation
    Documentation can be sparse or difficult to navigate, which might pose challenges for users trying to fully leverage its capabilities.
  • Aging Codebase
    Some parts of the codebase are relatively old, which could potentially lead to maintainability issues or lack of modern features.
  • Less Beginner-Friendly
    rxvt-unicode does not cater well to novice users due to its reliance on configuration files and command-line options for customization.
  • Dependency on Perl
    The reliance on Perl for extensions might be a drawback for users who are not familiar with the language or prefer not to have additional dependencies.
  • Lack of Integrated Tabs
    Unlike some modern terminal emulators, rxvt-unicode does not have built-in tab support, requiring users to rely on external tools or workarounds.

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.

Analysis of rxvt-unicode

Overall verdict

  • rxvt-unicode is a highly regarded terminal emulator, particularly among Unix-like operating systems users.

Why this product is good

  • Rxvt-unicode is known for its efficiency and low resource consumption compared to other terminal emulators. It supports Unicode, providing robust multilingual text handling, and allows for multiple font support. Its extensibility, through Perl scripts and add-ons, offers flexibility and customization options. Furthermore, its simple, minimalistic design appeals to users who prefer a no-nonsense terminal environment.

Recommended for

    rxvt-unicode is recommended for advanced users, developers, and system administrators who work in Unix-like environments and require a lightweight terminal emulator with Unicode support and extensive customization options. It is particularly suitable for those who value performance and minimal resource usage.

rxvt-unicode videos

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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 rxvt-unicode and Cygwin)
SSH
40 40%
60% 60
Server Management
35 35%
65% 65
Terminal Tools
34 34%
66% 66
Tool
45 45%
55% 55

User comments

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Reviews

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

rxvt-unicode Reviews

The 10 Best Linux Terminal Emulators
The key feature of rxvt-Unicode is that it is rock solid as software. It hardly crashes and is free of glitches. Experienced Linux users also prefer it because the main rxvt-Unicode program runs as a daemon, conserving system resources. Developers might love to try its support of Perl extensions which might increase productivity.

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, Cygwin should be more popular than rxvt-unicode. 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.

rxvt-unicode mentions (3)

  • tabby - a terminal for the modern age
    There are many terminal emulators, for throughput, predictable behavior with modern features, quake style, theming, tabs, and much more. Most of the features you need are supported by urxvt, and if it's not, there's sure to be another non-electron terminal emulator that has exactly what you need. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What terminal emulator do you use?
    Urxvt — Highly extendable (with Perl) unicode enabled rxvt-clone terminal emulator featuring tabbing, url launching, a Quake style drop-down mode and pseudo-transparency http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Any good truecolor terminals ?
    x11-terms/rxvt-unicode Available versions: (~)9.22-r7t *9999lt {-24-bit-color 256-color blink fading-colors +font-styles gdk-pixbuf iso14755 +mousewheel +perl -sgrmouse startup-notification unicode3 +utmp +wtmp xft} Homepage: http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/rxvt-unicode.html Description: rxvt clone with xft and unicode support. Source: about 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 / 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
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing rxvt-unicode and Cygwin, you can also consider the following products

GNOME Terminal - GNOME Terminal is a terminal emulator for GNOME desktop.

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

Console - Console is a Windows console window enhancement.

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

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.

Gnome Terminator - Terminator is one of the most useful and dynamic terminal emulators for Unix based operating systems.