path: root/src/INSTALLpc.txt

INSTALLpc.txt - Installation of Vim on PC

This file contains instructions for compiling Vim. If you already have an
executable version of Vim, you don't need this.

More information can be found here: (Very stale now.)

    http://mywebpage.netscape.com/sharppeople/vim/howto/

The file "feature.h" can be edited to match your preferences. You can skip
this, then you will get the default behavior as is documented, which should
be fine for most people.

With the exception of the last two sections (Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS),
this document assumes that you are building Vim for Win32
(Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista and Windows 95/98/Me)


Contents:
1. Microsoft Visual C++
2. Using MinGW
3. Cygwin
4. Borland
5. Cross compiling for Win32 from a Linux machine
6. Building with Python support
7. Building with MzScheme support
8. Windows 3.1
9. MS-DOS

The currently preferred method is using the free Visual C++ Toolkit 2003.


1. Microsoft Visual C++
=======================

Visual Studio
-------------

Building with Visual Studio (VS 98, VS .NET, VS .NET 2003, and VS .NET 2005)
is straightforward. (These instructions should also work for VS 4 and VS 5.)

To build Vim from the command line with MSVC, use Make_mvc.mak.
Visual Studio installed a batch file called vcvars32.bat, which you must
run to set up paths for nmake and MSVC.

nmake -f Make_mvc.mak           console   Win32 SDK or Microsoft Visual C++
nmake -f Make_mvc.mak GUI=yes   GUI       Microsoft Visual C++
nmake -f Make_mvc.mak OLE=yes   OLE       Microsoft Visual C++
nmake -f Make_mvc.mak PERL=C:\Perl PYTHON=C:\Python etc.
                                Perl, Python, etc.

Make_mvc.mak allows a Vim to be built with various different features and
debug support.  Debugging with MS Devstudio is provided by Make_dvc.mak.
For a description of the use of Make_dvc.mak, look in Make_mvc.mak.

For compiling Gvim with IME support on far-east Windows, add IME=yes
to the parameters you pass to Make_mvc.mak.

To build Vim from within the Visual Studio IDE, open the Make_ivc.mak project.
(Note: Make_ivc.mak is not as rich as Make_mvc.mak, which allows for
far more configuration.) Make_ivc.mak can also be built with nmake.

nmake -f Make_ivc.mak CFG="Vim - Win32 Release gvim"
                                GUI       Microsoft Visual C++ 4.x or later
nmake -f Make_ivc.mak CFG="Vim - Win32 Release gvim OLE"
                                OLE       Microsoft Visual C++ 4.x or later

See the specific files for comments and options.

These files have been supplied by George V. Reilly, Ben Singer, Ken Scott and
Ron Aaron; they have been tested.


Visual C++ Toolkit 2003
-----------------------

You can download the Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 from
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/
This contains the command-line tools (compiler, linker, CRT headers,
and libraries) for Visual Studio .NET 2003, but not the Visual Studio IDE.
To compile and debug Vim with the VC2003 Toolkit, you will also need
|ms-platform-sdk|, |dotnet-1.1-redist|, |dotnet-1.1-sdk|,
and |windbg-download|.

It's easier to download Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition, |msvc-2005-express|.
The advantage of the VC 2003 Toolkit is that it will be freely available
long after VC 2005 Express Edition stops being free in November 2006.

The free Code::Blocks IDE works with the VC2003 Toolkit, as described at
    http://wiki.codeblocks.org/index.php?title=Integrating_Microsoft_Visual_Toolkit_2003_with_Code::Blocks_IDE
(This site also takes you through configuring a number of other
free C compilers for Win32.)

To compile Vim using the VC2003 Toolkit and Make_mvc.mak, you must first
execute the following commands in a cmd.exe window (the msvcsetup.bat batch
file can be used):
       
    set PATH=%SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322;%PATH%
    call "%VCToolkitInstallDir%vcvars32.bat"
    set MSVCVer=7.1
    call "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Platform SDK\SetEnv.Cmd"
    set LIB=%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\Vc7\lib;%LIB%

Now you can build Vim with Make_mvc.mak.


Getting the Windows Platform SDK            *ms-platform-sdk*

You will also need a copy of the Windows Platform SDK from
    http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/
Specifically, you need the Windows Core SDK subset of the Platform SDK,
which contains the Windows headers and libraries.


Getting the .NET Framework 1.1 Runtime      *dotnet-1.1-redist*

You need the .NET Framework 1.1 Redistributable Package from
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=262d25e3-f589-4842-8157-034d1e7cf3a3
or from Windows Update:
    http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
This is needed to install |dotnet-1.1-sdk|. It also contains cvtres.exe,
which is needed to link Vim.


Getting the .NET Framework 1.1 SDK          *dotnet-1.1-sdk*

You need the .NET Framework 1.1 SDK from
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9b3a2ca6-3647-4070-9f41-a333c6b9181d
This contains some additional libraries needed to compile Vim,
such as msvcrt.lib. You must install |dotnet-1.1-redist| before
installing the .NET 1.1 SDK.


Getting the WinDbg debugger                 *windbg-download*

The Debugging Tools for Windows can be downloaded from
    http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx
This includes the WinDbg debugger, which you will want if you ever need
to debug Vim itself. An earlier version of the Debugging Tools
is also available through the Platform SDK, |ms-platform-sdk|.


Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
-------------------------------

Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition can be downloaded for free from:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualC/default.aspx
This includes the IDE and the debugger. You will also need
|ms-platform-sdk|. You can build Vim with Make_mvc.mak.

Instructions for integrating the Platform SDK into VC Express:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/usingpsdk/default.aspx


2. MinGW
========

(written by Ron Aaron: <ronaharon@yahoo.com>)

This is about how to produce a Win32 binary of gvim with MinGW.

First, you need to get the 'mingw32' compiler, which is free for the download
at:

    http://www.mingw.org/

Once you have downloaded the compiler binaries, unpack them on your hard disk
somewhere, and put them on your PATH.  If you are on Win95/98 you can edit
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file with a line like:

    set PATH=C:\GCC-2.95.2\BIN;%PATH%

or on NT/2000/XP, go to the Control Panel, (Performance and Maintenance),
System, Advanced, and edit the environment from there.

Test if gcc is on your path.  From a CMD (or COMMAND on '95/98) window:

    C:\> gcc --version
    2.95.2

    C:\> make --version
    GNU Make version 3.77 (...etc...)

Now you are ready to rock 'n' roll.  Unpack the vim sources (look on
www.vim.org for exactly which version of the vim files you need).

Change directory to 'vim\src':

    C:\> cd vim\src
    C:\VIM\SRC>

and you type:

    make -f Make_ming.mak gvim.exe

After churning for a while, you will end up with 'gvim.exe' in the 'vim\src'
directory.

You should not need to do *any* editing of any files to get vim compiled this
way.  If, for some reason, you want the console-mode-only version of vim (this
is NOT recommended on Win32, especially on '95/'98!!!), you need only change
the 'gvim.exe' to 'vim.exe' in the 'make' commands given above.

If you are dismayed by how big the EXE is, I strongly recommend you get 'UPX'
(also free!) and compress the file (typical compression is 50%). UPX can be
found at
    http://www.upx.org/

ADDITION: NLS support with MinGW

(by Eduardo F. Amatria <eferna1@platea.pntic.mec.es>)

If you want National Language Support, read the file src/po/README_mingw.txt.
You need to uncomment lines in Make_ming.mak to have NLS defined.


3. Cygwin
=========

Use Make_cyg.mak with Cygwin's GCC. See
    http://users.skynet.be/antoine.mechelynck/vim/compile.htm

The Cygnus one many not fully work yet.
With Cygnus gcc you can use the Unix Makefile instead (you need to get the
Unix archive then).  Then you get a Cygwin application (feels like Vim is
runnin on Unix), while with Make_cyg.mak you get a Windows application (like
with the other makefiles).


4. Borland
===========

Use Make_bc5.mak with Borland C++ 5.x. See
    http://users.skynet.be/antoine.mechelynck/vim/compile.htm


5. Cross compiling for Win32 from a Linux machine
=================================================

[Update of 1) needs to be verified]

If you like, you can compile the 'mingw' Win32 version from the comfort of
your Linux (or other unix) box.  To do this, you need to follow a few steps:
    1) Install the mingw32 cross-compiler. See
        http://www.libsdl.org/extras/win32/cross/README.txt
    2) get the *unix* version of the vim sources
    3) in 'Make_ming.mak', set 'CROSS' to '1' instead of '0'.
    4) make -f Make_ming.mak gvim.exe

Now you have created the Windows binary from your Linux box!  Have fun...


6. Building with Python support
===============================

(written by Ron Aaron: <ronaharon@yahoo.com>)

This has been tested with the mingw32 compiler, and the ActiveState
ActivePython:
    http://www.ActiveState.com/Products/ActivePython/

After installing the ActivePython, you will have to create a 'mingw32'
'libpython20.a' to link with:
   cd $PYTHON/libs
   pexports python20.dll > python20.def
   dlltool -d python20.def -l libpython20.a

Once that is done, edit the 'Make_ming.mak' so the PYTHON variable points to
the root of the Python installation (C:\Python20, for example).  If you are
cross-compiling on Linux with the mingw32 setup, you need to also convert all
the 'Include' files to *unix* line-endings.  This bash command will do it
easily:
   for fil in *.h ; do vim -e -c 'set ff=unix|w|q' $fil

Now just do:
   make -f Make_ming.mak gvim.exe

and you will end up with a Python-enabled, Win32 version.  Enjoy!


7. Building with MzScheme support
=================================

(written by Sergey Khorev <sergey.khorev@gmail.com>)

Vim with MzScheme (http://www.plt-scheme.org/software/mzscheme) support can
be built with either MSVC, or MinGW, or Cygwin. Supported versions are 205 and
above (including 299 and 30x series).

The MSVC build is quite straightforward. Simply invoke (in one line)
nmake -fMake_mvc.mak MZSCHEME=<Path-to-MzScheme>
    [MZSCHEME_VER=<MzScheme-version>] [DYNAMIC_MZSCHEME=<yes or no>]
where <MzScheme-version> is the last seven characters from MzScheme dll name
(libmzschXXXXXXX.dll).
If DYNAMIC_MZSCHEME=yes, resulting executable will not depend on MzScheme
DLL's, but will load them in runtime on demand.

Building dynamic MzScheme support on MinGW and Cygwin is similar. Take into
account that <Path-to-MzScheme> should contain slashes rather than backslashes
(e.g. d:/Develop/MzScheme)

"Static" MzScheme support (Vim executable will depend on MzScheme DLLs
explicitly) on MinGW and Cygwin requires additional step.

libmzschXXXXXXX.dll and libmzgcXXXXXXX.dll should be copied from
%WINDOWS%\System32 to other location (either build directory, some temporary
dir or even MzScheme home).

Pass that path as MZSCHEME_DLLS parameter for Make. E.g.,
make -f Make_cyg.mak MZSCHEME=d:/Develop/MzScheme MZSCHEME_VER=209_000
    MZSCHEME_DLLS=c:/Temp DYNAMIC_MZSCHEME=no

After a successful build, these dlls can be freely removed, leaving them in
%WINDOWS%\System32 only.


8. Windows 3.1x
===============

make -f Make_w16.mak             16 bit, Borland C++ 5.0

Warning: Be sure to use the right make.exe.  It should be Borland make.

You will almost certainly have to change the paths for libs and include files
in the Makefile.  Look for "D:\BC5" and "ctl3dv2".  You will get a number of
warnings which can be ignored ( _chmod, precompiled header files, and
"possibly incorrect assignment").

The makefile should also work for BC++ 4.0 and 4.5, but may need tweaking to
remove unsupported compiler & liker options.

For making the Win32s version, you need Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 OR EARLIER.
In MSVC 4.2 support for Win32s was dropped!  Use this command:
    nmake -f Make_mvc.mak GUI=yes


9. MS-DOS
=========

Summary:
ren Make_bc3.mak Makefile; make     16 bit, Borland C++ and Turbo C++
ren Make_tcc.mak Makefile; make     16 bit, Turbo C
make -f Make_djg.mak                32 bit, DJGPP 2.0
make -f Make_bc5.mak                32 bit, Borland C++ 5.x (edit it to
                                    define DOS)

Warning: Be sure to use the right make.exe.  Microsoft C make doesn't work;
Borland make only works with Make_bc3.mak, Make_bc5.mak and Make_tcc.mak;
DJGPP/GNU make must be used for Make_djg.mak.

The Borland C++ compiler has been used to generate the MS-DOS executable; it
should work without problems. You will probably have to change the paths for
LIBPATH and INCLUDEPATH in the start of the Makefile.  You will get two
warnings which can be ignored (one about _chmod and one about precompiled
header files).

The "spawno" library by Ralf Brown was used in order to free memory when Vim
starts a shell or other external command.  Only about 200 bytes are taken from
conventional memory.  When recompiling get the spawno library from Simtel,
directory "msdos/c".  It is called something like "spwno413.zip".  Or follow
the instructions in the Makefile to remove the library.

The Turbo C Makefile has not been tested much lately. It is included for those
that don't have C++. You may need to make a few changes to get it to work.

DJGPP needs to be installed properly to compile Vim; you need a lot of things
before it works. When your setup is OK, Vim should compile with just one
warning (about an argument to signal()).

Make_bc5.mak is for those that have Borland C++ 5.0 or later.  At the top of
the file, there are some variables you can change to make either a 32-bit
Windows exe (GUI or console mode), or a 16-bit MS-DOS version.
NOTE: multi-byte support is broken in the Borland libraries, not everything
will work properly!  Esp. handling multi-byte file names.

If you get all kinds of strange error messages when compiling, try adding
changing the file format from "unix" to "dos".