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Wiki > Main > WindowsDevelopmentPlatforms
---+!! Choosing a Rockbox Development Platform for Windows.
%TOC%

NOTE:This is a work in progress still.

---++ Why?


The Rockbox cross-compiler only works on Unix (not Windows), but a number of ways exist to get some kind of Linux behahiour on Windows to run the compiler on.

Prominent ones include:

   * Cygwin
   * Virtual Machines (!VMWare, !VirtualBox, !VirtualPC, etc)
   * !CoLinux
   * !WinARM (Windows Port of the arm-elf-gcc toolchain, for ARM only)
   * Interix (POSIX subsystem for Windows NT-based systems)

---++ Breakdown

---+++ Cygwin

---++++ Pros
   * Lightweight. No heavy RAM usage, no virtual network adapters show up, 

---++++ Cons
   * Sloooooooooow

---+++ Virtual Machines

   Virtualization is a way of running an OS inside another one, such that one can run Linux in a window on Windows(or a different pair of OSs). 

---++++ General Pros

   * Compiling should be at nearly the same speed it would be at running on the raw metal, if sufficient RAM is available
   * Gives an easy-to-use GUI for all development work

---++++ General Cons

   * Heavy on resources (two operating systems at once takes some power). Several GBs free is best, and the more RAM the better.
   * Heavy install. Often virtual network adapters will be added to your system, and other such things.


---++++ !VMWare

---+++++ Pros

   * !VMWare Player is free, and allows for easy use of the prebuilt Rockbox dev appliance--just drop it in.
   * !VMWare Workstation is arguably the best virtualization product for desktop use.
   * Virtual appliances can be built for free using the online tool [[http://www.easyvmx.com/][EasyVMX]].

---+++++ Cons

   * !VMWare Player does not allow creation of appliances, but many are available pre-built online(including one for Rockbox development)
   * Workstation costs USD $189
   * Both are closed source.

----++++ !VirtualBox

---+++++ Pros

   * !VirtualBox is maintained by Sun Microsystems and comes in both a proprietary and open source edition.  Both versions are free like beer (for personal use).
   * !VirtualBox is available for many major operating systems. 
   * !VirtualBox supports VMDK, which allows it to access VMWare disk images.  It should also allow drop-in use of the prebuilt Rockbox dev appliance.

---+++++ Cons

   * The GPL version lacks a few features, namely USB passthrough to the guest, ability to RDP into the guest, and a virtual SATA controller.
r13 - 27 May 2009 - 13:48:36 - RobertMenes