#################################### Using Microsoft Visual C with Python #################################### ******************************* Visual studio compiler versions ******************************* Here is a list of Visual Studio / `Visual C++ `_ version numbers, the value of the defined ``_MSC_VER`` during compilation, the alternative year-based name, and the C / C++ runtime library. For sources on version numbers / ``_MSC_VER``: * `a stackoverflow table `_; * a `sourceforge wiki page on compilers `_; * `stackoverflow answer on VC and Python `_. For VC runtime libraries: * a `history of the MS CRTS `_; * the MS `C runtime library pages `_; ============ ======== ================== ============= ============= VC++ version _MSC_VER Alternative name C runtime C++ runtime ============ ======== ================== ============= ============= 1.0 800 MSVCRT10.DLL 2.0 900 MSVCRT20.DLL 4.0 1000 MSVCRT40.DLL 4.2 1020 MSVCRT.DLL 5.0 1100 Visual Studio 97 MSVCRT.DLL MSVCP50.DLL 6.0 1200 MSVCRT.DLL MSVCP60.DLL 7.0 1300 Visual Studio 2002 MSVCR70.DLL MSVCP70.DLL 7.1 1310 Visual Studio 2003 MSVCR71.DLL MSVCP71.DLL 8.0 1400 Visual Studio 2005 MSVCR80.DLL MSVCP80.DLL 9.0 1500 Visual Studio 2008 MSVCR90.DLL MSVCP90.DLL 10.0 1600 Visual Studio 2010 MSVCR100.DLL MSVCP100.DLL 11.0 1700 Visual Studio 2012 MSVCR110.DLL MSVCP110.DLL 12.0 1800 Visual Studio 2013 MSVCR120.DLL MSVCP120.DLL 14.0 1900 Visual Studio 2015 See notes MSVCP140.DLL ============ ======== ================== ============= ============= .. _msvcrt-notes: For a discussion of the generic ``MSVCRT.DLL`` compared to the DLLs specific to the VC version, see `this blog post `_. See also `these comments on using MSVCRT.DLL from Mingw-w64 `_. For 2015, MS split the C runtime into two component libraries. See: * blog post on the `the universal CRT `_ * Steve Dower's first blog post: `Python 3.5 extensions part 1 `_; * Steve's second blog post: `Python 3.5 extensions part 2 `_; The CRT components are: * ``ucrtbase.dl``: "The Universal CRT (UCRT) contains the functions and globals exported by the standard C99 CRT library. The UCRT is now a Windows component, and ships as part of Windows 10." (see `CRT 2015 `_). * ``vcruntime140.dll`` : "The vcruntime library contains Visual C++ CRT implementation-specific code, such as exception handling and debugging support, runtime checks and type information, implementation details and certain extended library functions. This library is specific to the version of the compiler used." (`CRT 2015`_); The C++ runtime for VS2015 is ``MSVCP140.dll`` (`CRT 2015`_). ****************************************************************** Visual Studio versions used to compile distributed Python binaries ****************************************************************** See: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12028762/what-version-of-visual-studio-and-or-mingw-do-i-need-to-build-extension-modules and: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9047072/windows-python-version-and-vc-redistributable-version The version of Visual Studio is described in ``readme.txt`` in the ``PCBuild`` folder of the source distribution. The full Visual C++ version number is in either ``release.vsprops`` or ``release.props``. I read these files from the `CPython Hg web interface `_ for each tagged release. ============== ============ Python version VC++ version ============== ============ 2.5.6 7.1 2.6.9 9.0 2.7.6 9.0 3.2.3 9.0 3.3.5 10.0 3.4.0 10.0 3.5.0 14.0 3.6.0 14.0 ============== ============ **************************************************** Installing free versions of Microsoft Visual C / C++ **************************************************** Pythons 2.7 (and 3.2) ===================== If you are compiling for Python 2.7, you should first try the installer at https://aka.ms/vcpython27. I installed this for all users from a ``cmd`` Window opened with "run as administrator", like this:: msiexec /i VCForPython27.msi ALLUSERS=1 This command line comes from the "Install instructions" on the download page. For me, the installer runs but closes without showing any signs that it has finished. The compilers seem to work fine nevertheless. If this standalone Python 2.7 compiler set works for you, you should be able to compile both 32 and 64 bit extensions without further configuration. If not, see :ref:`other-options`. Pythons 3.3 and 3.4 =================== For Pythons 3.3 and 3.4 you will need MSVC 2010. Compiling for 64-bit ++++++++++++++++++++ For 64-bit compiles, I recommend you get your compilers via the Window 7.1 SDK. This includes the VS 10 / 2010 command line compilers you need to compile Python extensions. I found that I needed to install from the `offline ISO files `_. As you will see in the "Install Instructions", choose ``GRMSDKX_EN_DVD.iso`` for 64-bit compiles. I believe Windows 8, 10 and server 2012 can mount ISO files from explorer. For Windows 7 / server 2008 I used `Virtual clone drive `_ to mount the ISO files. To run the install, navigate to the folder ``Setup`` on the DVD image, and run ``SDKSetup.exe``. Otherwise you may get an error about .NET components that cannot be installed. Finally, for 64-bits, I needed to apply this patch to avoid a distutils compilation error ending in ``ValueError: ['path']``:: echo "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.1\Bin\SetEnv.cmd" /x64 > "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC\bin\amd64/vcvars64.bat" See `this MSVC 2010 SO post `_ for details on installing the Windows 7.1 SDK, and `this SO answer `_ for specifics on the 64-bit distutils error that can be fixed with the ``echo`` command above. Compiling for 32-bit ++++++++++++++++++++ Download and install the `MSVC 2010 express edition `_. Python 3.5, 3.6 =============== For Python 3.5 and 3.6 32-bit and 64-bit extensions you need MSVC 14 / 2015. Your fastest route to success will likely be the `MSVC 2015 command line tools `_. Install these first. To get Python to recognize the MSVC command line tools, you will need a version of the `setuptools package `_ >= 24.0. Check by:: python -c 'import setuptools; print(setuptools.__version__)' If your version is < 24.0, then:: pip install --upgrade setuptools See the `Python Windows compilers wiki page `_ for more details. Another option is to install the whole `VS 2015 community edition `_. It's a huge 11GB install which took more than an hour on my machine. Do a custom install, and select the VC++ compiler component (it is not selected by default). .. _other-options: *********************************** Other options for MSVC installation *********************************** If the VS for Python 2.7 installer doesn't work for you, or you can't get VS 2010 compilation working for 3.3 / 3.4, see the links below. In overview, you may be able to find the free Visual Studio express download that you need on the Microsoft site, but until VS 2015, these do not compile 64-bit extensions by default. The instructions above give the easiest way to get 64-bit compiles working, but you can also try the other methods given in the links below. *********************************** Some older links on installing MSVC *********************************** Here are some links that were useful at some point: * `Cython windows wiki page `_. This has more on configuration for 64-bit in particular. * `VS downloads `_ * `VS 2010 SDK `_ * `How to configure VS 10.0 for 64 bit `_ * `VS 2008 download `_ * Some `relevant instructions from a MATLAB user `_ for getting the VS 2008 SDK set up (the default downloads will refuse to install onto VS express). * `How to configure VS 9.0 for 64 bit `_