Windows-Build-Tools
On Windows? Want to compile native Node modules? Install the build tools with this one-liner:
npm install --global --production windows-build-tools
After installation, npm will automatically execute this module, which downloads and installs Visual
C++ Build Tools, provided free of charge by Microsoft. These tools are required to compile popular native modules.
It will also install Python 2.7, configuring your machine and npm appropriately.
:bulb: [Windows Vista / 7 only] requires .NET Framework 4.5.1 (Currently not installed automatically by this package)
Both installations are conflict-free, meaning that they do not mess with existing installations of
Visual Studio, C++ Build Tools, or Python. If you see anything that indiciates otherwise, please
file a bug.
Visual Studio 2017 vs Visual Studio 2015
This module is capable of installing either the build tools from Visual Studio 2017 or Visual
Studio 2015. Since Node's underlying build tools still don't fully support 2017, you might
have a better experience with 2015 - even if it sounds a bit outdated. On the other hand, if
you are only trying to compile a certain set of modules, the 2017 build tools are smaller and
install a bit quicker.
By default, this tool will install the 2015 build tools. To change that, run this script with
the --vs2017
parameter.
Contents
- Visual C++ Compilers (targeting x86, X64 and ARM)
- Visual C++ headers & libraries (CRT & STL)
- Visual C++ build scripts (targeting Windows desktop)
- Microsoft Build Tools 2017 (MSBuild)
- Windows SDK 10 (optional, on by default)
- ATL and MFC (optional, on by default)
- C++ Build tools specific command prompts
Usage
npm [--add-python-to-path] [--python-mirror=''] [--proxy=''] [--debug] [--strict-ssl] [--resume] [--sockets=5] [--vcc-build-tools-parameters=''] [--vs2017] install --global windows-build-tools
Optional arguments:
--add-python-to-path
: Add Python to the environment, allowing you to type python.exe
in any shell. Defaults to false
.--python-mirror
: Use a given mirror to download Python (like --python_mirror=https://npm.taobao.org/mirrors/python/
). You can alternatively set a PYTHON_MIRROR
environment variable.--proxy
: Use a given proxy. You can alternatively set a PROXY
environment variable.--debug
: Be extra verbose in the logger output. Equal to setting the environment variable DEBUG
to *
.--strict-ssl
: Enables "Strict SSL" mode. Defaults to false.--resume
: By default, windows-build-tools
will resume aborted downloads. Set to false
to disable.--sockets
: Specifies the number of http sockets to use at once (this controls concurrency). Defaults to infinity.--vcc-build-tools-parameters
: Specifies additional parameters for the Visual C++ Build Tools 2015. See below for more detailed usage instructions.--silent
: The script will not output any information.--vs2017
: Install the Visual Studio 2017 Build Tools instead of the Visual Studio 2015 ones.
Supplying Parameters to the VCC Build Tools
You can pass additional parameters directly to the VCC Build Tools installer. This tool does not
check if the parameters make sense - passing incorrect parameters might break the whole
installation.
Supply parameters to windows-build-tools
as a JSON array. Here's quick example (note the double quotes):
npm --vcc-build-tools-parameters='[""--allWorkloads""]' install --global windows-build-tools
Visual Studio 2015 Parameters
/AdminFile
: Specifies the installation control file./CreateAdminFile
: Specifies the location to create a control file that can then be used/CustomInstallPath
: Set Custom install location./ForceRestart
: Always restart the system after installation./Full
: Install all product features./InstallSelectableItems
: <item1;item2;...;itemN> Choose which selectable item(s) to be installed.
-selectable item to be installed, just pass in this switch without any value./Layout
: Create a copy of the media in specified folder./NoRefresh
: Prevent setup checking for updates from the internet./NoRestart
: Do not restart during or after installation./NoWeb
: Prevent setup downloading from the internet./Passive
: Display progress but do not wait for user input./ProductKey
: <25-character product key> Set custom product key (no dashes)./PromptRestart
: Prompt the user before restarting the system./Repair
: Repair the product./Uninstall
: Uninstall the product./Uninstall /Force
: Uninstall the product and features shared with other products.
Visual Studio 2017 Parameters
If you run windows-build-tools
with --vs2017
, the available parameters are documented here.
Support & Help
This package currently only handles the most common use case, none of the edge cases. If you encounter errors, we'd greatly appreciate error reports (and even pull requests). This is currently tested on Windows 10.
Where is Python installed?
It's saved under %USERPROFILE%\.windows-build-tools\python27
.
'Python' is not recognized as a command
To not mess with your machine in unnecessary ways, Python is only installed to disk and configured
with npm. If you'd like for the python
command to work in cmd.exe
and PowerShell, add the
folder %USERPROFILE%\.windows-build-tools\python27
to your environment variables.
License & Credits
The Python installation was made possible by Ali Hajimirza, who kindly wrestled with Python's MSIs until they surrendered.
Copyright (C) 2018 Felix Rieseberg. Licensed MIT. For more details, please see LICENSE.