Linux build in Windows 4815

In a message on 17 Sep 2005 15:10:56 -0700, wrote :

Cygwin is built to build UNIX programs to run *natively* under MS-Windows (using POSIX libraries), using GNU build tools (gcc-g++ + binutils + other gnu tools: make, libtool, auto{conf,make,scan}, etc.).

You build gcc and binutils (and maybe some additional libraries) as a cross-build environment under Cygwin, from the *sources* for gcc and binutils (and the libraries you need). You are probably NOT going to find these as pre-built binaries. Just find and download the sources and study the READMEs. You'll want *hardcopies* of the READMEs -- building the cross-build environment is a non trivial task -- there are a number of steps in the process. You might need to fetch some bits and pieces from a real Linux environment as well (libraries and header files) -- way back when (don't ask) I needed to build a gcc cross compiler and there were some bits that had to be native built (somehow) -- some low-level libraries (libgcc.a I think). I don't know if that is still the case or if it was because the underlying processors were O-S, on a SparcStation runing SunOS 3.x or 4.x). When I (much more recently) built a Mgwin32-based cross build for MS-Windows on a Linux box, it included installing a pile of pre-built .dlls-.libs.

It is (of course) easier to build a cross-build environment for MS-WIndows under Linux, using Mgwin32...

Even easier would be to use a dual boot box or a second (cheap-older) PC running Linux. The linux box can be headless even -- you can just slogin in from the Windows box. Cygwin comes with a basic X server even.