Minbwe

Minbwe is a portmanteau of "Minimalist GNU for Windows." It refers to a software distribution that provides a complete Open Source programming tool set suitable for native Microsoft Windows application development.

Specifically, MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) provides a header file and import library collection that allows one to link to functions in the Microsoft C runtime library (MSVCRT). Mingw-w64 is a fork of MinGW that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows systems and provides more complete and up-to-date header files and libraries.

Minbwe aims to provide a lightweight and easily installable environment for C and C++ development on Windows, relying on the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) as its core compiler. Key components typically included in a Minbwe distribution include:

• GCC (GNU Compiler Collection): The core compiler for C, C++, and other languages.
• GNU Binutils: A collection of binary tools, such as the linker, assembler, and archiver, necessary for creating executables and libraries.
• Make: A build automation tool.
• GDB (GNU Debugger): A debugger for finding and fixing errors in programs.
• MSYS/MSYS2: A minimalist shell environment providing a Unix-like interface for Windows, often including bash, make, and other essential development tools. MSYS2 is generally preferred over the older MSYS.

Minbwe allows developers to create native Windows applications without relying on proprietary compilers or IDEs, making it a popular choice for open-source projects and developers preferring a command-line-oriented development workflow. It’s distinguished from Cygwin, which provides a more complete POSIX environment on Windows, by its focus on creating native Windows executables that do not require a runtime compatibility layer.