Portable unix-like environment for Windows

Question

I am trying to build a portable set of files / scripts that will allow me to simulate a unix-like environment on Windows.

I do not want to install anything. For example, the setting should be able to work with the thumb. I am currently using UnxUtils to provide grep and more. Im adding them to the Windows PATH environment variable in the current console session using

cd <pathToUnxUtils> path = %PATH%;%CD% 

For Vim (my preferred editor), I use the "Win32 console executable" ( http://www.vim.org/download.php#pc ) vim.exe. If I have this on disk, for example \ vim \ vim73 \ vim.exe, then $ VIMRUNTIME is \ vim \ vim73, where my vimrc lives.

I try to get syntax highlighting and indentation, the following that I consider it necessary to add the corresponding .vim scripts to the $ VIMRUNTIME \ syntax and $ VIMRUNTIME \ indent but it does not seem to work.

I use an executable console instead of something like gVim (which probably does more than what I want out of the box) because I want to be able to send commands to the same shell using! team. gVim does not allow this (correct me if I am wrong)

Finally, has anyone experienced problems with the "tail" of UnxUtils running Vista?

I know this probably seems like a dumb way to do things, but I'm really trying to get this to work. Id would be pleased that these Unix success bits will work on Windows.

Thanks for any help

Answer 1

Check out cygwin portable: http://symbiosoft.net/cygwinportable

Or this guide on how to make regular cygwin run on portable devices: http://sites.google.com/site/devinsezer/Home/software/portable-cygwin

The advantage of cygwin over a thin emulation layer like UnxUtils is that it includes a fully working X11 server, so you can even run unix GUI applications if you need (gitk for example if you use git)

Answer 2

I had some problems with UnxUtils before re-currencying - they don't seem to be as relevant as GnuWin32 (e.g. TextUtils in 2.1 instead of 5.3).

I just downloaded the executables and necessary libraries for what I need (without installation, if you avoid installation packages, just copy and go).

If you click on the package names to the left of this second link above (rather than the "Settings" on the right), it allows you to download both the executable file and all the dependencies on one page.

My special needs for a recent project were fulfilled with sed and about four DLL files, without installation, without damage to the environment or registry. In short, ideal for working with a memory card or stand-alone CD.

At some point, I have to put together a CD with the whole kit. I used to wear CygWin, but the need for installation was a pain.

Answer 3

Either MSYS or CH will do it; there is a specially portable VIM in portable applications

Answer 4

Cygwin and MSYS provides everything you need. I used both, and I think MSYS is faster than Cygwin on a Windows machine. Cygwin emulates a UNIX environment, while MSYS is the GNU utils port for Windows.

Another option for getting portable GNU utils is to install Portable MsysGit .

Answer 5

I am using MobaXterm from Mobatek.

http://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/

This is not a complete envoirement, but rather suficcient. Just download and run!

It has (ba) sh, with X, sed, grep, awk, rsync, wget, sftp, scp; and some additional plugins (stand-alone files to be placed in the same directory) for VIM, EMACS, perl python, Gcc, gdb, mplayer, svn, git, lua graphviz ...

It still provides many protocols (RDP, VNC, SSH, telnet, rsh, FTP, SFTP, and XDMCP).

Answer 6

http://www.cygwin.com/ is very popular.

update: oh, it doesn't matter - I don’t think it can be xcopy deployed.

-Oisin

Answer 7

I got lucky with running Cygwin on thumbdrive. I did not run it on machines where older versions are installed. But I do not expect this problem to be frequent.

Here is what I did: http://fadedbluesky.com/2011/portable-cygwin/