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:

• Install a non-pure Python package from sources with Pip (if there is no Wheel package provided).

• Compile a Cython or Pyrex file.

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 :

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++ 14.0 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.

• Install Microsoft Visual C++ Build Tools 2015. Check Windows 8.1 SDK and Windows 10 SDK options.

• For automatic use of this compiler with Python, setuptools version must be at least 24.0. For manual use, you have to run your commands from Visual C++ Build Tools Command Prompt (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual C++ Build Tools\) each time you want compile with Python.

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.

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.

• Uninstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable if present (all versions and architectures). If present, it can cause an error on Windows SDK 7.1 installation.

• Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4 if not present.

• Install Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 4. Check Windows headers and libraries, Visual C++ Compilers and Windows Native Code Development\Tools options only.

• Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Compiler Update for the Windows SDK 7.1. This updates the compiler to Visual C++ 10.0 SP1.

• reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (for all previously installed architectures).

• The setuptools Python package version must be at least 24.0.

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.

• Install Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7.

• The setuptools Python package version must be at least 6.0.

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.

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.

• Install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 if not present.

• Install Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Check Windows headers and libraries, Visual C++ Compilers and Win32 Developement Tools options only.

• The setuptools Python package version must be at least 24.0.

For manual use, you have to run your commands from Windows SDK 7.0 Command Prompt (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0\Bin\SetEnv.cmd) each time you want to compile with Python. By default, SetEnv.cmd uses the x86 architecture, use /x64 or /ia64 arguments to change 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.

• Install Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 if not present.

• Install Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5. Check Windows headers and libraries, Visual C++ Compilers and Win32 Development Tools options only.

• The setuptools Python package version must be at least 24.0.

For manual use, you have to run your commands from Windows SDK 6.1 Command Prompt (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Bin\SetEnv.cmd) each time you want to compile with Python. By default, SetEnv.cmd uses the x86 architecture, use /x64 or /ia64 arguments to change 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.

MinGW (x86)

MinGW is an alternative C++ compiler that works with all Python versions.

• Install Minimalist GNU For Windows into C:\MinGW.

• Open MinGW Installation Manager, check mingw32-base and mingw32-gcc-g++, and Apply Changes in the Installation menu.

• Add C:\MinGW\bin to the PATH environment variable (With ";" before if PATH is not empty).

• Create a distutils.cfg file with the following contents in the folder \Lib\distutils in Python install directory :

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

Links

• Microsoft : The latest supported Visual C++ downloads : List of up-to-date Visual C++ Redistributable and Visual Studio packages.