Preparing the Windows build environment

Currently (Qubes R3) all Windows Tools code is built using Visual Studio 2013 and WDK 8.1. Builder machine should run Windows 7 64-bit (other OS versions weren't tested). Prerequisites take a lot of space so 30-40 GB for HDD is recommended. Builder scripts take care of getting/installing almost all needed prerequisites but some things need to be done by hand:

1. Install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7. Without it Visual Studio won't install.
2. Install Visual Studio 2013 Community [1]. Deselect all optional components. Install in a path without spaces or suffer frustration with makefiles. VS requires .NET Framework 4.5 but I think the setup includes that.
3. Install Windows Driver Kit 8.1 [2].

If you're starting in a clean OS without Qubes Builder, the get-be powershell script initializes the build environment. Download it from here:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/QubesOS/qubes-builder-windows/master/scripts/get-be.ps1

...and run: powershell -ExecutionPolicy bypass -f get-be.ps1

The script:

• Prepares msys/mingw environment
• Clones qubes-builder
• Installs GPG and verifies code signatures
• Adds a msys shell shortcut to the start menu
• Generates a code signing certificate for Windows binaries (necessary for drivers). Use no password for testing.

Building Qubes Windows Tools

Before building, prepare the appropriate builder.conf in the root of qubes-builder. Example config is provided as windows-tools.conf. From the newly launched msys shell run:

• make get-sources
• cd qubes-src\vmm-xen-windows-pvdrivers; git submodule update --init --recursive; cd -
• make qubes

The finished installer will be in qubes-src\installer-qubes-os-windows-tools.

[1] https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-community-vs.aspx

[2] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42273