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I would like to install cygwin, primarily to run gcc and associated tool chain, but before doing so, I'd like to have a heads-up on ways in which installing Cygwin changes the operation of Windows (or Windows console) that need to be anticipated.
Perhaps there is no problem interaction whatsoever. However, as Cygwin (or optional components) provides functionality that substitute for linux OS and environment functions, I don't know what it needs to do to provide those.
Clearly some Cygwin programs are just executables to be called upon when needed. More of a question mark are:
Console and shell, eg: bash: Does Cygwin provide its own separate terminal? Or provide a command line executable that runs within Windows console? Or does it modify the base operation of Windows command shell in some way?
Does Cygwin install services that run all the time, even when the user is not doing any Cygwin-related activities? Or just dlls (and executables) that programs invoke only when needed?
Any other points to watch for in this vein? Thanks!
I'm curious, what benefits might be gained from the lower level access that Interix has to the OS/hardware compared with Cygwin? Or do they both have pretty much identical capabilities? – Hashim – 2018-03-02T05:06:24.757
Thank you for an answer that addresses my concerns, and provides several background details to substantiate it and put it in context. Well done. – gwideman – 2014-03-15T20:50:33.997