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skeeto/w64devkit

Free

Portable C and C++ Development Kit for x64 (and x86) Windows

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About skeeto/w64devkit

w64devkit is a portable development suite for creating C, C++, and Fortran applications on Windows. It is built from source via a Dockerfile but pre-built releases are available. The kit includes a comprehensive set of tools: Mingw-w64 GCC compilers (C, C++, Fortran), GDB debugger, GNU Make, CMake with Ninja, busybox-w32 (Unix utilities including sh), Vim editor, Universal Ctags, Ccache, NSIS installer compiler, and aas-sign for Authenticode signing. Key design principles include no installation required (run from anywhere), fully offline operation, static linking of runtime components, and portability (extract and delete when done). The x64 kit requires Windows 7 or later, the x86 kit requires Windows XP or later with SSE2. The toolchain targets Windows 7 by default for x64 and the same for x86. CMake, Ninja, and Ccache require at least Windows 7.

Key Features

Includes Mingw-w64 GCC compilers for C, C++, and Fortran
GDB debugger for debugging Windows applications
GNU Make for build automation
CMake with Ninja and debugger support
busybox-w32 providing standard Unix utilities including sh shell
Vim text editor for code editing
Universal Ctags for source code navigation
Ccache for speeding up recompilations
NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) for creating Windows installers
aas-sign for Authenticode signing via Azure Trusted Signing

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • No installation required, runs as any user from any location
  • Fully offline operation after initial setup
  • Static linking simplifies deployment and avoids DLL dependencies
  • Small and portable kit; easy to delete when no longer needed
  • Pre-built releases available for immediate use
  • Trivial to build from source for customization
Cons
  • Command-line interface only; no graphical IDE included
  • x64 kit requires Windows 7 or later; x86 kit requires Windows XP or later with SSE2
  • Some tools (CMake, Ninja, Ccache) require Windows 7 or later

Best For

Developing C, C++, and Fortran applications on x64 and x86 WindowsCreating a portable development environment on a USB driveBuilding Windows installers with NSISDebugging Windows applications with GDBDeveloping without administrator privileges or system changes

FAQ

Does w64devkit require Docker?
Docker is only required to build the kit from source. Pre-built releases are available for direct use without Docker.
What operating systems are supported?
The x64 kit requires Windows 7 or later. The x86 kit requires Windows XP or later and an SSE2-capable processor. CMake, Ninja, and Ccache require at least Windows 7.
How do I use w64devkit after extracting it?
Run w64devkit.exe to launch a console window with the environment configured. Alternatively, add the w64devkit/bin directory to your PATH and start a shell with 'sh -l'.
What compilers are included?
Mingw-w64 GCC compilers for C, C++, and Fortran are included.
Is w64devkit free to use?
Yes, w64devkit is open source (unlicensed) and free to use for any purpose.