Linux Programming: Cygnus for Windows NT: Sneaking Linux into the Enterprise

[ Thanks to Kevin
Reichard for this link. ]

“Red Hat’s Cygwin for Windows NT is a set of tools and libraries
that can make the job of migrating Linux applications to Windows
significantly easier than porting these applications to native
Windows development tools, like those available from Microsoft.
Cygwin for Windows NT also runs on Windows 9x although some
features like security are not supported.”

“Cygwin is also ideal for those needing to implement
applications in a heterogeneous Linux/Windows environment. In
particular, it can allow an application installation procedure to
be almost identical on Windows or Linux. … Cygwin.dll will
work with other Windows DLLs including graphical support but this
is where Linux and Windows support diverge. A number of projects
are working to bring X Windows support to Windows which, combined
with Cygwin, will provide a more complete mechanism for porting
graphical applications to Windows.”

“Cygwin will appeal to those migrating applications from Linux
or, more likely, those who must maintain applications across
platforms. The price is right for internal development or GPLed
products. Graphical applications that use only X Window may find
development a bit more difficult under Windows using just Cygwin.
For graphical, Tcl/Tk-based applications, Cygwin is a definite win.
The same is true for most non-graphic applications including
network-based applications.”

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