"Long-time Unix and Linux users realize that sometimes nothing
beats the power of the shell, not to mention the bevy of tools that
the *nix environment provides. This is where Cygwin shows its
power. Cygwin is actually a collection of GNU tools ported to
Windows, which is done through the use of a Cygwin runtime library.
Using Cygwin, a developer can use Cygwin's runtime (or the Win32
API), the gcc compiler, and accompanying debugging tools, to port
Unix and Linux software to Windows.
"The reason for Cygwin goes beyond simply porting Linux and Unix
code to Windows. Standard bash scripts can be used on your Windows
systems, thereby extending the functionality of those machines,
particularly those that act as servers. Suddenly, you can have
access to all those commands that you desperately miss everytime
you find yourself working on a Windows machine. Finally--and this
was the feature that captured my curiosity--the ability to run X
provides you with the flexibility to run any Linux/Unix application
from your Windows desktop, thereby completing the administration
puzzle. Intrigued? Then, read on..."
