Even though Python is an interpreted language, you may need to install Windows C++ compilers in some cases. Unlike Linux, compilers for Windows are not included by default in the OS.

For example, you will need to use them if you wish to:

Microsoft provides official C++ compilers called Visual C++, you can find them bundled with Visual Studio or, for some versions, in standalone distributions. Some alternative compilers exist like MinGW, but incompatibilities may occur with a CPython official distribution that is built with Microsoft Visual C++.

The compiler's architecture must be the same as Python's (for example: if you use Python 64bit, you have to use an x64 compiler).

Which Microsoft Visual C++ compiler to use with a specific Python version ?

Each Python version uses a specific compiler version (e.g. CPython 2.7 uses Visual C++ 9.0, CPython 3.3 uses Visual C++ 10.0, etc). So, you need to install the compiler version that corresponds to your Python version :

Visual C++

CPython

14.x

3.5 - 3.12+

10.0

3.3 - 3.4

9.0

2.6 - 2.7, 3.0 - 3.2

Please also have a look at The Python Dev Guide for Windows to check for additional requirements or updates to the above table.

Distutils notes

If the package's setup.py (still) uses distutils rather than the recommended setuptools, you may need extra steps:

Compilers Installation and configuration

Compatible architectures are specified for each compiler in brackets.

/!\ Before do anything, install or upgrade the Setuptools Python package. It contain compatibility improvements and add automatic use of compilers:

pip install --upgrade setuptools

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.x with Visual Studio 2022 (x86, x64, ARM, ARM64)

For additional details, please have a look at the Windows section of the Python Development Guide and the PCbuild/python.props file for full details on how Python is built on Windows.

At the time of this writing, CPython is built using VC++ 14.3 (Jan 2022).

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.2 standalone: Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019 (x86, x64, ARM, ARM64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 14.2 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2019.

{i} Build Tools also allows to install any previous Visual C++ 14 version (Including 2015, 2017 ones).

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.2 with Visual Studio 2019 (x86, x64, ARM, ARM64)

Visual Studio 2019 contains Visual C++ 14.2 compiler. The setuptools Python package version must be at least 34.4.0.

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.1 standalone: Build Tools for Visual Studio 2017 (x86, x64, ARM, ARM64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 14.1 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2017.

/!\ Build Tools for Visual Studio 2017 was upgraded by Microsoft to Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019. See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.1 with Visual Studio 2017 (x86, x64, ARM, ARM64)

Visual Studio 2017 contains Visual C++ 14.1 compiler. The setuptools Python package version must be at least 34.4.0.

/!\ Visual Studio 2017 was upgraded by Microsoft to Visual Studio 2019. See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 standalone: Visual C++ Build Tools 2015 (x86, x64, ARM)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 14.0 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2015.

/!\ Visual C++ Build Tools 2015 was upgraded by Microsoft to Build Tools for Visual Studio 2017. See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 14.0 with Visual Studio 2015 (x86, x64, ARM)

Visual Studio 2015 contains Visual C++ 14.0 compiler. Distutils will automatically detect the compiler and use it.

/!\ Visual Studio 2015 was upgraded by Microsoft to Visual Studio 2017. See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 10.0 standalone: Windows SDK 7.1 (x86, x64, ia64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 10.0 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2010.

Microsoft Visual C++ 10.0 with Visual Studio 2010 (x86, x64, ia64)

Visual Studio 2010 contains Visual C++ 10.0 compiler. Distutils will automatically detect the compiler and use it. The Express edition of Visual Studio 2010 only bundles a compiler for x86.

Microsoft Visual C++ 9.0 standalone: Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7 (x86, x64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 9.0 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2008.

{i} Even though this package's name refers to Python 2.7 specifically, you can use it with all Python versions that use Visual C++ 9.0.

{i} This package always installs its start menu shortcuts for the installing user (i.e. an administrator) only. To get them for all users, run the installation like this: msiexec /i <full path to .msi> ALLUSERS=1.

Microsoft Visual C++ 9.0 standalone: Windows SDK 7.0 (x86, x64, ia64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 9.0 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2008.

/!\ The use of Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7 is recommended (If you don't need to compile for ia64). See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 9.0 standalone: Windows SDK 6.1 (x86, x64, ia64)

This is a standalone version of Visual C++ 9.0 compiler, you don't need to install Visual Studio 2008.

/!\ Windows SDK 6.1 was upgraded by Microsoft to Windows SDK 7.0. See the previous paragraph to install it.

Microsoft Visual C++ 9.0 with Visual Studio 2008 (x86, x64, ia64)

Visual Studio 2008 contains Visual C++ 9.0 compiler. Distutils will automatically detect the compiler and use it. The Express edition of Visual Studio 2008 only bundles a compiler for x86.

GCC - MinGW-w64 (x86, x64)

MinGW-w64 is an alternative C/C++ compiler that works with all Python versions up to 3.4.

   1 [build]
   2 compiler=mingw32
   3 
   4 [build_ext]
   5 compiler=mingw32

GCC - MinGW (x86)

MinGW is an alternative C/C++ compiler that works with all Python versions up to 3.4.

   1 [build]
   2 compiler=mingw32
   3 
   4 [build_ext]
   5 compiler=mingw32

WindowsCompilers (last edited 2023-06-09 12:03:05 by MarcAndreLemburg)

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