Do I need to install windows-build-tools? If so, should I install it for every node version?

[leafac]

I’m talking about this package: https://npm.im/windows-build-tools

It installs a C/C++ compiler and Python so that you can install packages with native modules (for example, sharp).

My questions are:

1. Does nvm subsume windows-build-tools?
2. If not, then should I treat windows-build-tools like any other global utility and reinstall it for every version of Node, or does it suffice to install it once? (After all, windows-build-tools is not a command-line tool.)

I’m asking the same question over at the windows-build-tools repository: felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools#239

[leafac]

The question was answered by @jacobq at felixrieseberg/windows-build-tools#239

In summary:

nvm does not subsume windows-build-tools. You should still install windows-build-tools to work with native dependencies.

You may install windows-build-tools only once. Unlike other global utilities, this isn’t a command-line tool that should be available when you switch to different Node version. Once the C/C++ compiler and Python are installed, they’ll continue to work even if you switch to different Node versions.

[hhorneber]

This worked for me:

• Install node with native build tools using the installer provided by nodejs.org
• Uninstall node (this will leave the build tools in place)
• Install nvm

[leafac]

Good point.

Since writing my messages above I found that if you’re using Chocolatey it may be easier to just install the Node.js build tools through it, instead of relying on windows-build-tools or the Node.js installer:

> choco install python visualstudio2022-workload-vctools

[hhorneber]

That actually looks like the best solution to me.

[Taschenbuch]

Or: Do not install node from nodejs.org. Just install nvm. use nvm install to install a nodejs version.

1. Enter this in windows file explorer path: %AppData%\nvm
2. open the folder for the version you just installed with nvm
3. double click on install_tools.bat which will install python and the vsbuild tools in the correct versions. it will cause some UAC prompts

[angelicochris]

Or: Do not install node from nodejs.org. Just install nvm. use nvm install to install a nodejs version.

1. Enter this in windows file explorer path: %AppData%\nvm

2. open the folder for the version you just installed with nvm

3. double click on install_tools.bat which will install python and the vsbuild tools in the correct versions.  it will cause some UAC prompts

This doesn't seem to be the case, only time I was given install_tools.bat is when it was downloaded from nodejs.org.
Why doesn't nvm-windows install build tools if they are missing when its first installed?

[Taschenbuch]

may depend on your node version. For 16 and 18 there is a install_tools.bat inside the version folder. Tested on multiple systems in different networks. But i agree. I think nvm-windows should at least ask whether it should install the builds tools too like the official windows nodejs installer asks as well.