OSDev.org

Good, but I am talking about GNU tools, not Visual Studio (which I do adore).

So you don't like the GNU tools on Windows because of your (mistaken) belief that they are not up to date (as I have already demonstrated, you are quite wrong about that). So exactly what features of make (for example) are missing in the Windows version that you find indispensable in the Linux version? Or is it just a question that you have to have "the latest" without understanding why or what exactly "the latest" offers? Version 4.8.1 of GCC seems pretty up to date to me (actually MinGW even offers an experimental 4.8.2 version).

So, short question - in what respect are the Windows tools deficient?

Now, as I have pointed out ians, I am a person of habit. It is not that I couldn't live without. I just like having everything up to date. Pet peeve of mine. Second, I had forgotten about MinGW prior to it being pointed out to me, and even with MinGW, it isn't the same as a full blown distro, although it is pretty good. I have pointed out already that MinGW is hardly deficient (again, I am sorry about the gcc version debacle). To put it bluntly, I am just more comfortable living in my complete house rather than just taking a few rooms with me. That is, if you assume Linux is the house .