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Microsoft C++ Build Tools2025-10-07T11:44:37-07:00

Visual Studio Build Tools for C++

Standalone MSVC compiler, libraries, and scripts

Download Build Tools

Visual Studio Build Tools offers essential components for building C++ projects on Windows outside of the IDE – perfect for command-line workflows and continuous integration pipelines. This includes the latest tools shipped in Visual Studio 2015 and later: Microsoft C++ (MSVC) compiler and linker, standard library, ATL and MFC, Windows SDK, Clang tools for Windows, AddressSanitizer, and the vcpkg package manager.

Walkthrough: Compiling a Native C++ Program on the Command Line

How you can use the Build Tools

vcpkg

Open-source C/C++ package manager from Microsoft for all workflows.

GitHub Actions

Build, test, and deploy your code from GitHub.

.NET

Compile C++ code that interops with .NET apps using C++/CLI.

Python

Install non-pure Python packages or compile a Cython or Pyrex file.

Node.js

Use native add-ons in Node.js with node-gyp.

Rust

Build Rust for Windows for use with the MSVC ABI.

screenshot of C++ tools

Develop C++ tools and libraries with Visual Studio

Visual Studio provides a free, fully featured development environment for C++ developers.