Has Windows an integrated built-in C C compiler package

Question

I would like to be able to compile C and C++ code under the Windows environment without using an IDE, just by using the Windows Command prompt (cmd.exe).

I come from Linux, where you are be able to install the gcc package with just a command in the terminal:

$ sudo apt install gcc

I'm wondering whether there's a C/C++ compiler collection in a package inside the Windows install directories, similar to the Linux ones, that I can just install.

What else motivates me to pose this question is:

Because the Windows kernel and the Windows API are written in C, and many of the high-level programmes in the final Windows 10 release are written in C++, it would make sense to supply an appropriate compiler suite as well. 

 

This is my mental model; it does not have to correspond to reality.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Answer 1

Microsoft does not offer a compiler or the requisite Windows SDK headers/libs with the Windows installation (which also contains a number of other essential development tools).

The analogous "built-in" choice would be Microsoft Visual C++ (part of Visual Studio), however I'm not sure whether Microsoft ever specifies which version they use for a specific Windows build, and it's usual to have a lot of applications created with several compilers/versions (including the various non-Microsoft ones).

Also included is the whole Visual Studio package, which includes the IDE and other tools.

Some components, such as the Build Tools for Visual Studio 2019, are available separately from Microsoft.

I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for this, including the fact that most users aren't interested in assembling their own software, and Microsoft still offers Visual Studio separately to bigger businesses (historically to most serious users, but "Community" edition is now pretty nonrestrictive for individuals and small business).