MinGWw64

MinGW-w64 is a development environment for creating native Microsoft Windows applications using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC). It provides a set of GCC compiler tools, specifically adapted for the Windows operating system. MinGW-w64 aims to enable developers to build 32-bit and 64-bit Windows programs using open-source tools. It includes the necessary header files and import libraries to interface with the Windows API.

The project originated as a fork of MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows), which primarily focused on 32-bit Windows development. MinGW-w64 expanded upon this foundation by adding robust support for 64-bit Windows architecture. This allows for the compilation of applications that can leverage the full capabilities of modern 64-bit processors and operating systems.

MinGW-w64 is widely used by developers who prefer the GCC toolchain or who need to create cross-platform applications where Windows is one of the target environments. It allows for the creation of standalone executables that do not require the installation of the larger MinGW runtime environment for distribution, although certain runtime libraries might still be necessary depending on the application's dependencies. The project is actively maintained and is a popular choice for Windows development with GCC.