What is the difference between MinGW, MinGW-w64 and MinGW-builds?

Question

What are the differences between MinGW, MinGW-w64 and MinGW-builds?

And which one should I use to compile c++ 11 source code with the Eclipse IDE on a Windows 8 mach

Answer 1

Mingw compiles your code to Windows binaries that run under Windows.

Windows subsystem for Linux (WSL) makes Linux binaries. You can install other Linux programs under WSL, except if you need a graphical interface. You can access the Windows filesystem from WSL, but not vice versa.

Cygwin makes Windows binaries that can run under Windows outside the Cygwin shell, as long as you have the Cygwin DLL. This gives a Linux-like environment that is fully compatible with Windows.