Windows: How to make cygwin bash.exe to take precedence over wsl in command line?

Command Center

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22-10-2024

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Windows offers multiple options for running a Bash shell, with two prominent choices being Cygwin and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). However, sometimes you may want to set Cygwin's bash.exe to take precedence over WSL when executing Bash commands in the Windows Command Line (CMD). This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to achieve this.

The Problem Scenario

If you have both Cygwin and WSL installed on your Windows system, typing bash in the command prompt will typically default to using WSL's Bash. To ensure that Cygwin's bash.exe is the version that runs, you'll need to adjust your system's PATH environment variable. Here's the original code snippet often encountered:

# Command in CMD
bash

This command might invoke WSL's Bash instead of Cygwin's, which is not the desired outcome.

Solution: Adjusting the PATH Environment Variable

Step 1: Locate Cygwin's bash.exe

The first step is to find out where Cygwin's bash.exe is located on your system. Typically, this is in the C:\Cygwin\bin\ folder, but it may vary based on your installation settings.

Step 2: Modify the PATH Variable

1. Access Environment Variables:

   • Right-click on the Start Menu and select System.
   • In the System window, click on Advanced system settings.
   • In the System Properties dialog, click on the Environment Variables button.

2. Edit the PATH Variable:

   • In the Environment Variables window, locate the Path variable under the System variables section and select it. Click Edit.
   • In the Edit Environment Variable window, click New and add the path to Cygwin's bin directory (for example, C:\Cygwin\bin).
   • Drag this entry to the top of the list to give it priority over other entries, including the one for WSL.

3. Save Changes:

   • Click OK in all dialog boxes to save your changes.

Step 3: Test the Configuration

1. Open a new Command Prompt window.
2. Type bash and press Enter.

If configured correctly, this should launch Cygwin's bash.exe instead of WSL's. You can confirm this by checking the prompt or using commands that are specific to Cygwin.

Additional Tips

• Use Command Aliases: If you frequently use both shells and want quick access, consider creating aliases or shortcuts. For example, you can create a shortcut that directly calls Cygwin’s bash in the command prompt by creating a batch file named cygwin.bat with the following command:

  @echo off
  start C:\Cygwin\bin\bash.exe --login -i
  

• Considerations: Keep in mind that some commands and features might differ between Cygwin and WSL. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with both environments for optimal productivity.

Conclusion

By adjusting the PATH variable on your Windows system, you can successfully set Cygwin’s bash.exe to take precedence over WSL in the command line. This allows for a more tailored development environment that may better suit your workflow.

Useful Resources

• Cygwin Official Website
• Windows Subsystem for Linux Documentation
• Managing Environment Variables in Windows

With this guide, you should have a clear path to setting up your preferred Bash environment. Enjoy coding!