Software distribution & development platform
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This lightweight and powerful software development platform lets you create, deploy, and distribute apps within three different environments. These environments pack tools for creating native Windows apps, as well as a POSIX emulator with Unix utilities and features.
Minimalist Windows development environments
MSYS2 packs two different environments for you to build native Windows apps. They’re both called MinGW-w64, with one version for 32-bit and the other for 64-bit architectures. Each environment includes build tools, compilers, and libraries for building 32/64-bit programmes.
Windows programmes compiled through MSYS2 don’t need any further emulation. You can execute and distribute them normally, like any other native Windows app.
Powerful POSIX emulation
The platform includes an additional environment, which is simply called MSYS2. It’s an emulated POSIX platform, complete with all the essential Unix tools a developer needs. It lets developers build Windows apps using the Unix utilities with which they're familiar.
That includes the ability to run unmodified Unix code within MSYS2. You can also install additional Unix build tools in the environment. This means that developers can build apps depending on the POSIX emulation layer, rather than the native API, based on Cygwin.
Built-in Unix tools
Developers most comfortable with Unix family systems and programmes will feel right at home in MSYS2. The platform comes with several basic *nix utilities, such as a bash shell, version control tools, and more.
Effortless installation of packages
Finding, downloading, and handling Unix packages are effortless within the platform. It comes equipped with Pacman. As Arch Linux’s default package manager, Pacman will be familiar to most *nix devs. Over 1800 MSYS2 packages are available.
Clean development space
The platform provides developers with a clean space for working on software intended for Windows distribution. Extraneous features deemed unnecessary for this purpose have been removed, ensuring smooth and efficient performance.
Robust Windows development platform
MSYS2 provides a straightforward, no-nonsense platform for seamless deployment of Unix code in Windows machines. It’s an excellent tool for developing Win32/Win64 apps with the flexibility and ease provided by *nix tools.
