Cygwin - Bringing Linux Commands to Windows

Cygwin is an open-source collection of tools that provides Linux-like functionality on Windows. In other words, using Cygwin allows various Linux commands and open-source software to be used in the Windows environment. For example, text editors like vim and commands like grep for searching text can be used. However, some complex Linux programs may not work perfectly in Cygwin.

When Cygwin is run, it provides an environment similar to a command-line interface where Linux commands and programs can be executed.

Since Windows cannot natively recognize Linux binaries, Linux source code must be compiled in the Cygwin environment for execution on Windows. However, it is not necessary to compile the source code in all cases. Basic Linux commands and tools provided by Cygwin are already pre-compiled for Windows, allowing them to be used without additional compilation.

The Cygwin project was started by Cygnus Solutions, and later, Red Hat took over its development and maintenance after acquiring Cygnus Solutions.