The tool allows easy porting of many Unix programs without the need for extensive changes to the source code. If you're a developer you will find tools, headers, and libraries allowing to write Windows console or GUI applications that make use of significant parts of the POSIX API. The Cygwin distribution contains thousands of packages from the Open Source world including most GNU tools, many BSD tools, an X server, and a full set of X applications.
The Cygwin DLL currently works with all recent, commercially released x86 32 bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. Cygwin is a DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux API layer providing substantial Linux API functionality. Img credit: Cygwin Running NS3 in Windows 7 by jasonernst.Cygwin 64bit is a collection of tools which provide a Linux look and feel environment for Windows. (Read: Run one OS on the top of another using virtual machine) If you want an alternative to Cygwin, there are MinGW and Winelib. The features of Cygwin include shells (CLI), terminals, editors, remote logins including ssh, rsh and telnet all major programming languages can be performed in Cygwin. Now, open Cygwin and run any program you wish like in the Unix environment – command line is all what you got to see.Ĭygwin consists of DLL (Dynamic-link Library) functionality and software collections to give Unix-like appearance. Once your Cygwin setup wizard has completed the installation, you shall see screenshot like above. There are many Cygwin packages given in the Cygwin official website, you can search one yours here.Īfter downloading necessary Cygwin set up file, the packages are downloaded and installed.
By default all base packages will be installed, however you still can search and install the one your require. Existing Cygwin installation maybe effected by major releases, however if you are installing Cygwin for the first time (clean and fresh installation) then just ignore the setup alert.įinally, select the Cygwin packages you want to install in your computer’s Cygwin installation environment. If there are major release upgrade, it is common to see screens like this. You can always add on more packages to your Cygwin installation later.Ĭygwin setup downloads the latest files and packages from online mirror sites and install them in your local computer. However, by default only a base set of packages are installed. Download the latest installation file of Cygwin from here and then proceed as illustrated here.Ĭygwin environment and all subsequent updates will be installed via Cygwin Net Release setup program, ensure all packages are install. Follow the tutorials based on these screenshots.
Here is an easy way to install and make Cygwin run in Windows 7 64-bit platform, and how to run Linux applications inside the Windows OS. Read Tutorial: How to install ns-3 in Windows 7 using Cygwin by Jason. In order to run or install native Linux or Unix based simulators like NS2 or NS3 (Network Simulators) and OMNeT++ (not a native though) in Windows (without installing Linux), you will need Cygwin.
Wine, WINdows Emulator, on the other hand is just the reverse application to Cygwin – Wine allows us to run applications developed primarily for Windows OS in other operating systems, say Mac OS or Linux. There is a native integration of Windows-based applications and softwares to work in Linux or Unix like environment, thus it is not necessary to install Linux only to fun your simulating program. Cygwin eliminates the overhead of installing an entire Linux OS for running certain applications. Cygwin is a development environment similar to Unix one and has command-line interface to work like in Linux but inside the Microsoft Windows Operating System.