MinGW
MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows) is a native software port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and GNU Binutils for Windows, allowing developers to create Windows applications using open-source tools. It provides a minimal development environment that supports C, C++, Fortran, and other languages, producing executables that run directly on Windows without requiring additional runtime libraries like Cygwin. MinGW is widely used for cross-platform development, porting Unix/Linux software to Windows, and building lightweight native Windows programs.
Developers should learn MinGW when they need to compile C/C++ code for Windows using free, open-source tools, especially for projects that require native Windows executables without external dependencies. It is ideal for porting Unix-based software to Windows, educational purposes, or developing small to medium-sized applications where a full Visual Studio installation is unnecessary. MinGW is also useful for cross-platform development workflows that rely on GCC toolchains.