**Python 3.6** and later can use Microsoft Visual Studio 2017. You can download

and use any of the free or paid versions of `Visual Studio 2017`_.

When installing Visual Studio 2017, select the **Python workload** and the

optional **Python native development** component to obtain all of the necessary

build tools. If you do not already have git installed, you can find git for

Windows on the **Individual components** tab of the installer.

Your first build should use the command line to ensure any external dependencies

are downloaded::

After this build succeeds, you can open the ``PCBuild\pcbuild.sln`` solution in

Visual Studio to continue development.

See the `readme`_ for more details on what other software is necessary and how

to build.

.. note:: **Python 2.7** uses Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, which is most easily

obtained through an MSDN subscription. To use the build files in the

`PCbuild directory`_ you will also need Visual Studio 2010, see the `2.7

readme`_ for more details. If you have VS 2008 but not 2010 you can use the

build files in the `PC/VS9.0 directory`_, see the `VS9 readme`_ for details.

.. _Visual Studio 2017: https://www.visualstudio.com/