[Guide]: Lightweight compiler for Windows for replacement heavy Visual Studio IDE. Compile rAthena faster. Save your bandwidth and disk space.

[anacondaq]

Problem

Please open the link and read https://github.com/rathena/rathena/pull/2089

tl;tr VS2008, VS2010 solutions no more available after upgrade above. I'm not against these changes, but they create some problems that are described in comments in the link above and in the images below.

My little "cry story", which affects many users, and main ideas has been explained there: https://github.com/rathena/rathena/pull/2089

Solution

1.91GB data instead of 9.1GB data to download / store on HDD just for doing the same task (compiling) is not it good?

Something like this looks this tool, and on the screenshot above you see that login, char, map server and others projects inside solution has been successfully built.

What is it?

This is Visual Studio C++ Build Tools. Detailed information what is it you can read here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd293626.aspx

This is just a set of console apps as the compiler, linker, etc. Without heavy Visual Studio IDE which does its job pretty well.
You can save up to 4-5x times internet bandwidth and space at disk.

For whom is this?

I think this guide will be useful for all who has only one goal - compile rAthena source code on Windows and run it.
For people who wish to save some data, and internet bandwidth. Who don't develop new features for rAthena, because IDE much better for this purposes. 

Pros of VS 2017 C++ Build Tools:

• lightweight, you need to download and install just ~1.9GB of data, instead of installing whole very heavy Visual Studio IDE (~8-15GB depends on VS)
• very fast, resource lite, because don't need to run IDE, this is a command line tool
• not need to modify any part of a project, you can compile whole .sln (solution) of rAthena without any modification via a single command or running compile.bat (see below)
• Do the same things what do "Build Menu" in VS 2017 (build, rebuild, clean solution, break, etc)
• Ideal tool for people with limited internet, and SSD drives which use rAthena for compilation / recompilation only (src -> .exes)
• will print errors, warnings while compilation too, like Visual Studio 2017 IDE, so you will not miss any problems

Cons of VS 2017 C++ Build Tools:

• if you are not a developer of rathena source code, and don't use Visual Studio 2017 full features (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/whats-new-in-visual-studio) you will not find any negative sides of this. 

 

Guide how to compile rAthena on Windows

How to compile rAthena without Visual Studio IDE but by Visual Studio C++ Building Tools?
It's very easy, let me follow you though mini-guide which will require few actions from you.

1. Go Here: https://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/#build-tools-for-visual-studio-2017/
download Building Tools for Visual Studio 2017, then run it

 

2. Go to Individual Components and select next checkboxes:

• Static analysis Tools
• VC++ 2017 v141 toolset (x86,x64)
• Windows Universal CRT SDK
• Visual C++ Build Tools core features
• Windows 8.1 SDK
• Windows Universal C Runtime

This is minimal package of things what need to install to make compilation works, either you will have tons of errors when will try to compile a code.
This minimal package has been tested and verified on Win10x64 and works great. Nothing extra, only most important components. 

 

3. Let's try to compile your server (rAthena source code (rAthena.sln))

Mini-theory what you need to know. You will build whole solution (rAthena.sln) via MSBuild via command line by entering next format

Quote

MSBuild <path to rAthena.sln> <flags>

As I remember MSBuild not added to "path", so just calling from command line "MSBuild" command not enough, for that need or create .bat file, or call it manually via terminal (console)

If you don't want to read details below, you can stop here, and download "compile.bat", then copy the file to your rAthena folder and run it.
After this you will see console window inside what you will be able to see compilation output. Then when process will be finished, you will get compiled rAthena exe's in rAthena emulator folder from where you have been ran "compile.bat" file.

 

Or here is raw code from compile.bat you can copy-paste it to text editor then save your file as 'compile bat' and copy the file to your rAthena folder

@Echo OFF
Echo "Building solution/project file using batch file"
SET PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\BuildTools\MSBuild\15.0\Bin
SET SolutionPath=%~dp0\rAthena.sln
Echo Start Time - %Time%
MSbuild.exe %SolutionPath% /p:PlatformToolset=v141 /m
Echo End Time - %Time%
Set /p Wait=Build Process Completed...

 

If you don't want to use .bat file, you can always launch compilation via next combination of actions

Click "Run Start (Windows button)" - find in Start Menu - Developer Command Prompt for VS 2017, and then run it.

Inside opened console app, enter next command:

MSBUILD C:\user\admin\desktop\rathena\rAthena.sln /p:PlatformToolset=v141 /m

Where path you must set by yourself (where is located your rAthena.sln)

About /p:PlatformToolset=v141. By default rAthena solution file developed for VS2013, and VS2013 uses v120 toolset. This toolset available only with Visual Studio 2013, and this toolset impossible to install for this VS Building Tools. So, we have installed v141 toolset and we will use it. And we don't need to edit any config files to update our solution (like in rAthena guide what you can read at topic about rAthena solution upgrade). So, don't remove this parameter, and always have it as an argument, either you will not be able to compile solution and will see million of errors.

About /m - this is the optional parameter, you can not use it if don't wish (/m parameter makes compilation much faster).

When you will enter it, MSBuild will compile source code in console and will print you about any warnings / errors during compilation (like you see in Visual Studio IDE). When it will finish, you will see results, something like this

 

 

Useful commands And Links

Build / Re-build Project:

MSBuild <path_to_rAthena.sln> /p:PlatformToolset=v141

or if you wish to build faster try add /m flag too

MSBuild <path_to_rAthena.sln> /p:PlatformToolset=v141 /m

 

Clean Solution:

MSBuild <path_to_rAthena.sln> /t:Clean

 

Information about MSBuild:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd293626.aspx/ 

 

That's all, hope it's enough, and I have helped someone.

Edited June 4, 2017 by Anacondaqq

[utofaery]

Since vc++ 2017 v141 toolset (x86 x64)  is not available

on previous post you mentioned to use visual c++ build tools from workload page 

is that you are suggesting??  to install to skip or avoid installing the huge default installation??

If it is so, that makes the download size up to 3.19GB may include installed sizes too.

 

Notes: 

Window is running 7 x32 if that matters since you stated yours running win10

Edited January 14, 2019 by utofaery

[anacondaq]

After a lot of testing, the guide is NOT actual for 2019 MSBuild tools. Because the size of the community build tools is about 4.6GB, while the WHOLE installation of the complete package required for rAthena is just 5.6GB or 6.6GB with IDE. This is not worth it.

If you wish to save your internet traffic and disk space, I have for you a piece of bad news...
The only way is to use old 2017 build tools and downloading them from somewhere...

An alternative method will be cygwin like packages, but they are not compatible with rathena only source code after last changes with epoll changes, yaml crap libs inside include dirs which implemented not properly and not only.  All of these things make impossible to use 300mb archive with compiler and cygwin for compiling the emulator (see my another topic in Projects and Concepts). 

What to do?

• or install buildtools for VS2017
• or install buildtools for VS2015
• or install Visual Studio 2013
• The size will be less than in latest VS 2019

 

compile.cmd for VS Buildtools 2019

@Echo OFF
Echo "Building solution/project file using batch file"
SET PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\BuildTools\MSBuild\Current\Bin
SET SolutionPath=%~dp0\rAthena.sln
Echo Start Time - %Time%
MSbuild.exe %SolutionPath% /p:PlatformToolset=v142 /m
Echo End Time - %Time%
Set /p Wait=Build Process Completed...

Just copy-paste it to compile.cmd if you're using buildtools 2019, and copy-paste compile.cmd to your rathena folder, and run, it will compile the code without VS Studio Community 2019 IDE

Edited June 7, 2019 by anacondaq

[nightnight]

On 6/8/2019 at 3:54 AM, anacondaq said:

compile.cmd for VS Buildtools 2019

@Echo OFF
Echo "Building solution/project file using batch file"
SET PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\BuildTools\MSBuild\Current\Bin
SET SolutionPath=%~dp0\rAthena.sln
Echo Start Time - %Time%
MSbuild.exe %SolutionPath% /p:PlatformToolset=v142 /m
Echo End Time - %Time%
Set /p Wait=Build Process Completed...

Just copy-paste it to compile.cmd if you're using buildtools 2019, and copy-paste compile.cmd to your rathena folder, and run, it will compile the code without VS Studio Community 2019 IDE

Hello Anacondaq,

First of all, thank you for all of your guidance that guide newbie and amateur like me,

my deepest condolance for your topic about really really really easy rathena install... had to be blocked by admin.

I'm quite upset with that... i learned a lot from your topic there.

But here you are still helping newbie... thank you once again...

I'm going to level up my understanding about Rathena, and i would like to turn on adjust skill damage but i have to compile the server,

(FYI, i use your rathena package, thank God i still have a chance to get it before it closed)

and i think i dont have many option but to use VS2019...

Can you help to guide me which box i have to thick for VS2019 downloader so it can compatible with your compile.cmd.

 

Thank you.

[syn9673]

A much faster and easier way that worked for me is installing node.js.
Once installing it, simply open Windows Powershell as Admin then run `npm install windows-build-tools -g`
After that, open start menu and find MSBuild Command Prompt. Then go to your rAthena dir and build using `msbuild`.
You could also try finding where `msbuild.exe` is located then add it to your path for much easier access.

[Kochalate]

Its year 2020 now, I decided to install Visual Studio Build tools but its 2019 there's no 2017, and when I go to Individual Components there is no

*Windows Universal C Runtime, Visual Studio C++ Build Tools Core Feature etc . . . .

What should I do?

Can someone help me  , I'm just a newbie hehehe

[adani_jmc]

2022 here,

To download the 2017 version, you need to scroll down the page a bit, and find  and click "Visual Studio Express" text link.

Then scroll down again and click on "Express 2017 for Windows Desktop" to download the web installer.

While it say "Express", you can still choose the VS Community 2017 later.

 

*if the open up windows is empty, you need to close the optional window first, then choose the Community Editon in the [Available] Tab

 

When you choose the SDK Individual Component with Windows 10, you have to download "Windows 10 SDK".

There is no Windows 8.1 SDK in Windows 10, but you can find it if your pc/laptop have Windows 7 installed.

[Nightmare_Eng]

Can we have a list of the needed programs for people who do have the space as I have noticed its just all about old programs that are not listed anymore.

I would like to just select the correct pack needed from the list and install as download size dose not matter.

So far I just installed the C++ pack, looked like it came with everything needed, but in 2023 I think its best to check with the up to date generation as its been 13 years I last set up my RO server and I am just getting back into setting up another one.  (So excited)

Posted image just to check that it has everything

Already installed - Desktop Development with C++

Hope that covers everything needed.

Edited February 2, 2023 by Nightmare_Eng