# Setting up cygwin on windows or linux it? **URL:** \ **Category:** ruby-talk\ **Created:** [30 April 2009 12:28 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155 "2009-04-30T12:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Adam\_Akhtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adam\_Akhtar](https://rubytalk.org/u/Adam_Akhtar)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 12:28 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/1 "2009-04-30T12:28:04Z")
Due to some gems not working for windows im considering either installing cygwin or even going as far as installing linux (linux isnt the evil here, its the partioning and a whole sunday spent figuring out stuff). Id rather go with cygwin but ive read posts that mention problems when you have cywin ruby and a windows ruby on the same system something about ---ubygems or something. I know nothing about cygwin and its pros/cons nor how it will affect my current ruby projects and rails setup. Do i need to install a cygwin verion of ruby? Can it coexist with my current version on windows. I dont want to have to uninstall it because ive just spent 3 days figuring out hwo to get get mysql working with rails 2.+ that requried multiple reinstalls. Id liek to leave it as it is. any tips pointers etc greatly will really help out > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_K1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/rubytalk.org/robert_k1/32/1830_2.png) [@Robert\_K1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Robert_K1)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 13:49 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/2 "2009-04-30T13:49:00Z")
Disclaimer: I am not using any database bindings at the moment. I'm pretty happy using the cygwin version only. Currently you need to compile from source if you want to have 1.9.1 but that's not a big issue on cygwin (the usual configure, make, make install loop). I would guess that you do not have to delete the Windows version but I believe you better keep them apart. That would mean installing gems twice if you want to have them in both environments. Personally I haven't felt the need to use another Windows version but I'm not doing GUI either. Just my 0.01 EUR... Kind regards robert > **···** > > 2009/4/30 Adam Akhtar \: > > > Due to some gems not working for windows im considering either > > installing cygwin or even going as far as installing linux (linux isnt > > the evil here, its the partioning and a whole sunday spent figuring out > > stuff). > > > > Id rather go with cygwin but ive read posts that mention problems when > > you have cywin ruby and a windows ruby on the same system something > > about ---ubygems or something. > > > > I know nothing about cygwin and its pros/cons nor how it will affect my > > current ruby projects and rails setup. > > > > Do i need to install a cygwin verion of ruby? Can it coexist with my > > current version on windows. I dont want to have to uninstall it because > > ive just spent 3 days figuring out hwo to get get mysql working with > > rails 2.+ that requried multiple reinstalls. Id liek to leave it as it > > is. > > -- > remember.guy do |as, often| as.you\_can - without end > [http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/](http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Schroeder](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/rubytalk.org/hassan_schroeder/32/1838_2.png) [@Hassan\_Schroeder](https://rubytalk.org/u/Hassan_Schroeder)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 13:58 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/3 "2009-04-30T13:58:01Z")
I'd suggest using virtualization (VMWare, etc.) to install a Linux distro. Much simpler than setting up dual-boot, and much more versatile than cygwin (you can snapshot and revert VMs, clone them, etc.) FWIW, > **···** > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 5:28 AM, Adam Akhtar \ wrote: > > > Due to some gems not working for windows im considering either > > installing cygwin or even going as far as installing linux (linux isnt > > the evil here, its the partioning and a whole sunday spent figuring out > > stuff). > > -- > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com ---
**Author:** ![Dominic\_Sisneros2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@Dominic\_Sisneros2](https://rubytalk.org/u/Dominic_Sisneros2)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2009 17:45 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/4 "2009-05-04T17:45:20Z")
From rubygems list, it looks like one-click is almost finished Just in case, if someone want to test the binary builds of new One-Click Installer, you can try downloading those form there: [http://rubyinstaller.org/downloads/](http://rubyinstaller.org/downloads/) Those are direct builds from rubyinstaller repository and includes a fresh sandbox with MinGW+MSYS to help you 'fake' a complete \*nix environment. If you have a Windows VM (or real PC) please try those out, since new One-Click Installer will be built on top of that. Regards, Regards, > **···** > > -- > Luis Lavena > AREA 17 ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_Akhtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adam\_Akhtar](https://rubytalk.org/u/Adam_Akhtar)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 14:12 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/5 "2009-04-30T14:12:33Z")
ahh that sounds good. Unfortunately i just realised I wont be able to use my beloved e-editor via linux.... perhaps cygwin is the way to go. But ill definately look into it as a way to try out linux. (is there a text-mate / e-editor style editor for linux?) > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Aleksandr\_Levchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Aleksandr\_Levchuk](https://rubytalk.org/u/Aleksandr_Levchuk)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 18:40 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/6 "2009-04-30T18:40:29Z")
Usually virtualization (VMWare, etc.) is too slow to use. I would recommend dual boot. If it's a not a Mac then friendly Linux distros (Ubuntu, Debain, CentOS, Fedora,...) will install the dual boot very smoothly. The hardest part is making the decision on what part of the hard drive to allocate to Linux. Alex > **···** > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 6:58 AM, Hassan Schroeder \ wrote: > > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 5:28 AM, Adam Akhtar \ wrote: > > > > > Due to some gems not working for windows im considering either > > > installing cygwin or even going as far as installing linux (linux isnt > > > the evil here, its the partioning and a whole sunday spent figuring out > > > stuff). > > > > I'd suggest using virtualization (VMWare, etc.) to install a Linux distro. > > Much simpler than setting up dual-boot, and much more versatile than > > cygwin (you can snapshot and revert VMs, clone them, etc.) > > > > FWIW, > > -- > > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------------ > Aleksandr Levchuk > Biology Systems and Database Administrator > University of California, Riverside > Cell Phone: (951) 368-0004 > ------------------------------------------------------------ ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_Akhtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adam\_Akhtar](https://rubytalk.org/u/Adam_Akhtar)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 14:14 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/7 "2009-04-30T14:14:09Z")
ahh robert, missed your reply there. Initially Id like to keep the windows version in reserve just in case i dont take to well to cygwin. If cygwin goes well then id be willing to just delete the windows version and keep only the cygwin one. > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Schroeder](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/rubytalk.org/hassan_schroeder/32/1838_2.png) [@Hassan\_Schroeder](https://rubytalk.org/u/Hassan_Schroeder)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 14:22 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/8 "2009-04-30T14:22:25Z")
> ahh that sounds good. Unfortunately i just realised I wont be able to > use my beloved e-editor via linux.... \ > (is there a text-mate / e-editor style editor for linux?) I don't use either of those [1] but there are any number of possible alternatives: shared folders for the two "systems", edit on Windows and `cap deploy` to Linux, etc. [1] I mostly use jEdit, which is cross-platform and extremely easy to customize through shortcuts, macros, and plugins. HTH, > **···** > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 7:12 AM, Adam Akhtar \ wrote: > -- > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Schroeder](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/rubytalk.org/hassan_schroeder/32/1838_2.png) [@Hassan\_Schroeder](https://rubytalk.org/u/Hassan_Schroeder)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 18:52 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/9 "2009-04-30T18:52:56Z")
That's a uselessly broad statement. I've used VMWare on Windows, Linux, and Mac hosts, and never found that to be true, even running multiple VMs simultaneously. Maybe slow on a netbook or an iPhone or something. 🙂 But certainly the OP can try a virtualization approach first and see if it's performant enough on his hardware for his needs. TMTOWTDI. > **···** > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Aleksandr Levchuk \ wrote: > > > Usually virtualization (VMWare, etc.) is too slow to use. > > -- > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Pack4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@Roger\_Pack4](https://rubytalk.org/u/Roger_Pack4)\ **Post date:** [1 May 2009 11:30 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/10 "2009-05-01T11:30:35Z")
Adam Akhtar wrote: > ahh that sounds good. Unfortunately i just realised I wont be able to > use my beloved e-editor via linux.... perhaps cygwin is the way to go. > But ill definately look into it as a way to try out linux. > > (is there a text-mate / e-editor style editor for linux?) e-text was just released "shared source" with a "build your own" linux port available (check their blog). I'd recommend virtualbox works like a champ for me--using it right now Linux guest on XP host. -=r > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Louis-Philippe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/db5fbb/32.png) [@Louis-Philippe](https://rubytalk.org/u/Louis-Philippe)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 19:22 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/11 "2009-04-30T19:22:00Z")
an other approach is to run a linux kernel inside windows, > **[andLinux.org](https://www.andlinux.org/)** > > Ejecute Linux de forma nativa dentro de Windows the andLinux project is very surprising, it allows you to run windows and linux in the same desktop environment, compatible with ubuntu repositories... > **···** > > 2009/4/30 Hassan Schroeder \ > > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Aleksandr Levchuk \ \> wrote: > > \> Usually virtualization (VMWare, etc.) is too slow to use. > > > > That's a uselessly broad statement. I've used VMWare on Windows, > > Linux, and Mac hosts, and never found that to be true, even running > > multiple VMs simultaneously. > > > > Maybe slow on a netbook or an iPhone or something. 🙂 > > > > But certainly the OP can try a virtualization approach first and see if > > it's performant enough on his hardware for his needs. > > > > TMTOWTDI. > > -- > > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com ---
**Author:** ![Aleksandr\_Levchuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Aleksandr\_Levchuk](https://rubytalk.org/u/Aleksandr_Levchuk)\ **Post date:** [30 April 2009 19:26 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/12 "2009-04-30T19:26:32Z")
Hassan, My experience was with VirtualBox on Windows on a new IBM Touchpad laptop about a year ago. The environment was snappy at the very beginning, but became slow (compared to native Linux installations) when I used Ubuntu's package manager to install software. Sorry for not being specific. Alex > **···** > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM, Hassan Schroeder \ wrote: > > > On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Aleksandr Levchuk \ wrote: > > > > > Usually virtualization (VMWare, etc.) is too slow to use. > > > > That's a uselessly broad statement. I've used VMWare on Windows, > > Linux, and Mac hosts, and never found that to be true, even running > > multiple VMs simultaneously. > > > > Maybe slow on a netbook or an iPhone or something. 🙂 > > > > But certainly the OP can try a virtualization approach first and see if > > it's performant enough on his hardware for his needs. > > > > TMTOWTDI. > > -- > > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.schroeder@gmail.com > > -- > ------------------------------------------------------------ > Aleksandr Levchuk > Biology Systems and Database Administrator > University of California, Riverside > Cell Phone: (951) 368-0004 > ------------------------------------------------------------ ---
**Author:** ![lim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lim](https://rubytalk.org/u/lim)\ **Post date:** [1 May 2009 12:47 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/13 "2009-05-01T12:47:59Z")
> an other approach is to run a linux kernel inside windows,[http://www.andlinux.org/](http://www.andlinux.org/) > the andLinux project is very surprising, it allows you to run windows and > linux in the same desktop environment, compatible with ubuntu > repositories... This is getting slightly off topic but does somebody know how this compares, performance-wise, to virtualbox? I'm wondering if it is worth the hassle to try andlinux just so that the virtual windows show up in windows. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Pack4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@Roger\_Pack4](https://rubytalk.org/u/Roger_Pack4)\ **Post date:** [1 May 2009 13:25 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/14 "2009-05-01T13:25:42Z")
> This is getting slightly off topic but does somebody know how this > compares, performance-wise, to virtualbox? I'm wondering if it is > worth the hassle to try andlinux just so that the virtual windows show > up in windows. I'd imagine andlinux is faster [1], not sure how much. virtualbox does have "seemless" mode which is nice, but it shows all virtualbox windows, not just the topmost, when you use it, so it's sometimes annoying. [1] [http://amarok.kde.org/forum/index.php?topic=15735.0](http://amarok.kde.org/forum/index.php?topic=15735.0) > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Pack4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@Roger\_Pack4](https://rubytalk.org/u/Roger_Pack4)\ **Post date:** [9 May 2009 03:37 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/15 "2009-05-09T03:37:48Z")
> This is getting slightly off topic but does somebody know how this > compares, performance-wise, to virtualbox? I'm wondering if it is > worth the hassle to try andlinux just so that the virtual windows show > up in windows. Twould appear that they're all close to the same speed windows mingw: $ time ruby -ve '10000000.times {33}' ruby 1.8.6 (2009-03-31 patchlevel 368) [i386-mingw32] real 0m1.235s user 0m0.015s sys 0m0.030s rogerdpack@andLinux:$ time ~/installs/ruby-187-p160/bin/ruby -e '10000000.times {33}' real 0m1.490s user 0m1.460s sys 0m0.030s ubuntu as a guest VM: rdp@rdp-vm:~/$ time ~/installs/ruby\_187\_p160/bin/ruby -e '10000000.times {33}' real 0m1.251s user 0m1.160s sys 0m0.024s I have had a few troubles with andLinux not working perfectly. It does integrate nicely, window wise, though. -=r > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C). ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_Akhtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adam\_Akhtar](https://rubytalk.org/u/Adam_Akhtar)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2009 13:46 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/16 "2009-05-04T13:46:25Z")
Thanks all for your suggestions. I tried cygwin it seemed ok but then i explored using virtualbox and how easy it is to get linux running within windows without having to partition or worry about losing your drive. Theres a great recent tutorial on how to get up and running at > **[The Beginner's Guide to Creating Virtual Machines with VirtualBox](https://lifehacker.com/5204434/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox)** > > Virtual machines can seem juuuuust a bit too geeky for most otherwise computer-friendly people. That's sad, because it's an easy, free way to try another operating system, or use those one or two apps you can't get on yours. And you can... I also got rails installed very quickly here > **[Install Ruby Rails on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope](http://www.hackido.com/2009/04/install-ruby-rails-on-ubuntu-904-jaunty.html)** > > It's getting easier to install Ruby on Rails all the time. I thought about skipping actually writing this tutorial until I heard that Phusi... The good thing about using virtual linux is i can use my windows e-editor to edit my files whilst at the same time having linux be the host for rails which means less hassles with gems etc. If i take to linux and find a linux based replacement for e-editor Ill do a fully fledged install but for now its excellent! better than i imagined. Id heartedly reccommend any other windows based users who are either fed up with having to deal with gems not supported for windows or who were contemplating trying out linux but feared the installation process to check virtual ware out! thanks again all for your input. re: addlinux i couldnt find much on using it with rails and as im a newb to linux i thought its go the more popular route - more blogs with how tos etc > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Robert\_K1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/rubytalk.org/robert_k1/32/1830_2.png) [@Robert\_K1](https://rubytalk.org/u/Robert_K1)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2009 14:20 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/17 "2009-05-04T14:20:26Z")
Thanks for your feedback! One question out of curiosity: why did you pick VirtualBox over VMWare Server (free as well)? Was it just because of the ease of installation? Kind regards robert > **···** > > 2009/5/4 Adam Akhtar \: > > > I tried cygwin it seemed ok but then i explored using virtualbox and how > > easy it is to get linux running within windows without having to > > partition or worry about losing your drive. Theres a great recent > > tutorial on how to get up and running at > > -- > remember.guy do |as, often| as.you\_can - without end > [http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/](http://blog.rubybestpractices.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Adam\_Akhtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Adam\_Akhtar](https://rubytalk.org/u/Adam_Akhtar)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2009 15:25 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/18 "2009-05-04T15:25:32Z")
Hi Robert, Yes just the ease. I did look into performance comparissons briefly but for a light user like me it didnt really matter. The ease was more important plus the the lifehacker post on setting up was the most recent guide i found via google. over at [hardocp.com](http://hardocp.com) a lot of people were saying they were happy they switched but i cant remember exactly why. > **···** > > -- > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Julian\_Leviston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@Julian\_Leviston](https://rubytalk.org/u/Julian_Leviston)\ **Post date:** [5 May 2009 13:19 UTC](https://rubytalk.org/t/setting-up-cygwin-on-windows-or-linux-it/53155/19 "2009-05-05T13:19:12Z")
Cygwin sucks so hard Blog: [http://random8.zenunit.com/](http://random8.zenunit.com/) Learn: [http://sensei.zenunit.com/](http://sensei.zenunit.com/) Twitter: [http://twitter.com/random8r](http://twitter.com/random8r) > **···** > > On 05/05/2009, at 1:25 AM, Adam Akhtar \ wrote: > > > Hi Robert, > > > > Yes just the ease. I did look into performance comparissons briefly but > > for a light user like me it didnt really matter. The ease was more > > important plus the the lifehacker post on setting up was the most recent > > guide i found via google. > > > > over at hardocp.com a lot of people were saying they were happy they > > switched but i cant remember exactly why. > > > > -- > > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/\](http://www.ruby-forum.com/%5C).