Cygwin terminfo file
File type: Various data file
A SYSK file is a compiled terminfo file used by Cygwin, a Unix-like environment for Microsoft Windows.
It stores terminal capability information used by text-based applications running in Cygwin.
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: September 27, 2026
Cygwin terminfo files contain descriptions of terminal behavior, including supported control sequences, screen features, colors, and keyboard capabilities. Programs use this information to display text and interact correctly with the terminal.
The file is part of Cygwin's terminal-information database and is read by terminal applications and libraries rather than opened as a document. Cygwin is developed for Microsoft Windows and provides a Unix-like command-line environment.
The format remains relevant to Cygwin software that uses the terminfo database. It is a compiled terminal description, normally installed and maintained as part of the Cygwin environment.
A SYSK file is not normally opened directly in a Windows application. Cygwin terminal programs read it automatically from the terminfo database when they need terminal capability information.
Within Cygwin, the infocmp utility can inspect a terminfo entry and produce a readable terminfo source representation. The tic utility can compile terminfo source back into the database format.
This file is not intended for conversion to a general-purpose document format. If its contents need to be edited or transferred, use infocmp to produce terminfo source and use tic to compile that source for use by Cygwin.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving sysk files:
Microsoft Windows
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