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Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. It consists of two parts:
# A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux API emulation layer providing substantial Linux API functionality.
# A collection of tools which provide Linux look and feel.

What Can Cygwin Do?

With Cygwin, administrators can login remotely to any PC, fix problems within a Posix/Linux/UNIX shell on any Windows machine, and run shell command scripts. Sophisticated shell command scripts can be created with standard shells, such as sed or awk. Standard Windows command line tools can even be intermixed within the UNIX/Linux shell script environment to administer the Windows system. Over the years, UNIX/Linux system administrators have developed a large toolbox set of management scripts for their UNIX/Linux machines. Cygwin provides the ability to continue using these scripts on Windows machines.

Why Use Cygwin?

One of the largest problems developers face today is supporting their applications on disparate platforms. Windows workstations continue to be added to an environment already populated by Linux and other UNIX-based Operating Systems. Using Cygwin, developers can manage heterogeneous environments in a consistent, efficient way. Cygwin provides a standard UNIX/Linux shell environment, including many of its most useful commands to the Windows platform, so IT managers can effectively deploy trained staff and leverage existing investments in UNIX/Linux source code and shell scripts.