MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows), formerly mingw32, is a free and open source software development environment for creating Microsoft Windows applications.
Developed by MinGW.org
MSYS2 offers a more comprehensive package management system and better POSIX compatibility, making it suitable for complex projects. In contrast, MinGW is lightweight and simpler, making it ideal for smaller projects and cross-compilation.
MinGW
Pros:
Lightweight and minimalistic
Good for cross-compilation
Simpler installation process
Suitable for smaller projects
Less resource-intensive
Cons:
Limited package management features
Less POSIX compatibility
Fewer pre-built packages available
Less active community support
MSYS2
Pros:
Comprehensive package management system with pacman