Install Slycot on Windows 10 failing

[jakelevi1996]

• I tried to install Slycot on Windows 10, Python 3.7.6 (regular Python, not Conda) with the following commands, as suggested in the installation instructions for the Python control module:

python -m pip install -U pip
python -m pip install slycot

• The Slycot installation instruction failed, suggesting that nmake/Ninja couldn't be found, and I should install Visual Studio 2022
• I installed Visual Studio 2022 Community edition, tried again and got the same error message
• I then installed "C++ CMake tools for Windows" from "Tools > Get Tools and Features... > Individual Components" in Visual Studio
• (side note: requiring me to install Visual Studio and then C++ CMake tools for Windows required about 5GB of disk space, which I would say is the opposite of lightweight - isn't there any way this module can be installed from pip using just a standard C/C++ compiler such as MinGW and CMake? For me this would make Slycot a lot more lightweight and the installation process a lot smoother)
• After installing "C++ CMake tools for Windows", I got the (very verbose) output shown below when running python -m pip install slycot
• What should I do in order to get the build working?

> python -m pip install slycot
Collecting slycot
  Using cached slycot-0.5.1.tar.gz (3.0 MB)
  Installing build dependencies ... done
  Getting requirements to build wheel ... done
  Preparing metadata (pyproject.toml) ... done
Requirement already satisfied: numpy in c:\program files\python37\lib\site-packages (from slycot) (1.18.1)
Building wheels for collected packages: slycot
  Building wheel for slycot (pyproject.toml) ... error
  error: subprocess-exited-with-error
  
  × Building wheel for slycot (pyproject.toml) did not run successfully.
  │ exit code: 1
  ╰─> [353 lines of output]
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      -- The C compiler identification is MSVC 19.34.31937.0
      -- Detecting C compiler ABI info
      -- Detecting C compiler ABI info - failed
      -- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe     
      -- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe - broken
      CMake Error at C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd/overlay/Lib/site-packages/cmake/data/share/cmake-3.25/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:70 (message):
        The C compiler
     
          "C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe"
     
        is not able to compile a simple test program.
     
        It fails with the following output:
     
          Change Dir: C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-3lflc1
     
          Run Build Command(s):C:/PROGRA~1/MIB055~1/2022/COMMUN~1/Common7/IDE/COMMON~1/MICROS~1/CMake/Ninja/ninja.exe cmTC_dd321 && [1/2] Building C object CMakeFiles\cmTC_dd321.dir\testCCompiler.c.obj
          [2/2] Linking C executable cmTC_dd321.exe
          FAILED: cmTC_dd321.exe
          cmd.exe /C "cd . && C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd\overlay\Lib\site-packages\cmake\data\bin\cmake.exe -E vs_link_exe --intdir=CMakeFiles\cmTC_dd321.dir --rc=rc --mt=CMAKE_MT-NOTFOUND --manifests  -- C:\PROGRA~1\MIB055~1\2022\COMMUN~1\VC\Tools\MSVC\1434~1.319\bin\Hostx86\x64\link.exe /nologo CMakeFiles\cmTC_dd321.dir\testCCompiler.c.obj  /out:cmTC_dd321.exe /implib:cmTC_dd321.lib /pdb:cmTC_dd321.pdb /version:0.0 /machine:x64  /debug /INCREMENTAL /subsystem:console  kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib && cd ."
          RC Pass 1: command "rc /fo CMakeFiles\cmTC_dd321.dir/manifest.res CMakeFiles\cmTC_dd321.dir/manifest.rc" failed (exit code 0) with the following output:
          The system cannot find the file specified
          ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
     
     
     
     
     
        CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
      Call Stack (most recent call first):
        CMakeLists.txt:3 (ENABLE_LANGUAGE)
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      -- Selecting Windows SDK version  to target Windows 10.0.19044.
      -- The C compiler identification is unknown
      CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:3 (ENABLE_LANGUAGE):
        No CMAKE_C_COMPILER could be found.
     
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error: CMake was unable to find a build program corresponding to "Ninja".  CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM is not set.  You probably need to select a different build tool.
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:2 (PROJECT):
        Generator
     
          Visual Studio 16 2019
     
        could not find any instance of Visual Studio.
     
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error: CMake was unable to find a build program corresponding to "Ninja".  CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM is not set.  You probably need to select a different build tool.
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Ninja (Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:2 (PROJECT):
        Generator
     
          Visual Studio 15 2017
     
        could not find any instance of Visual Studio.
     
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      -- The C compiler identification is MSVC 19.34.31937.0
      -- Detecting C compiler ABI info
      -- Detecting C compiler ABI info - failed
      -- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe     
      -- Check for working C compiler: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe - broken
      CMake Error at C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd/overlay/Lib/site-packages/cmake/data/share/cmake-3.25/Modules/CMakeTestCCompiler.cmake:70 (message):
        The C compiler
      
          "C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.34.31933/bin/Hostx86/x64/cl.exe"
     
        is not able to compile a simple test program.
     
        It fails with the following output:
     
          Change Dir: C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeScratch/TryCompile-ghppg6
     
          Run Build Command(s):nmake -f Makefile /nologo cmTC_25914\fast &&       "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.34.31933\bin\HostX86\x64\nmake.exe"  -f CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir\build.make /nologo -L                  CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir\build    
          Building C object CMakeFiles/cmTC_25914.dir/testCCompiler.c.obj
                  C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd\overlay\Lib\site-packages\cmake\data\bin\cmake.exe -E cmake_cl_compile_depends --dep-file=CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir\testCCompiler.c.obj.d --working-dir=C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-install-e4wqqvym\slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410\_cmake_test_compile\build\CMakeFiles\CMakeScratch\TryCompile-ghppg6 --filter-prefix="Note: including file: " -- C:\PROGRA~1\MIB055~1\2022\COMMUN~1\VC\Tools\MSVC\1434~1.319\bin\Hostx86\x64\cl.exe @C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\nmF0B9.tmp
          testCCompiler.c
          Linking C executable cmTC_25914.exe
                  C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd\overlay\Lib\site-packages\cmake\data\bin\cmake.exe -E vs_link_exe --intdir=CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir --rc=rc --mt=CMAKE_MT-NOTFOUND --manifests -- C:\PROGRA~1\MIB055~1\2022\COMMUN~1\VC\Tools\MSVC\1434~1.319\bin\Hostx86\x64\link.exe /nologo @CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir\objects1 @C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\nmF118.tmp
          RC Pass 1: command "rc /fo CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir/manifest.res CMakeFiles\cmTC_25914.dir/manifest.rc" failed (exit code 0) with the following output:
          The system cannot find the file specifiedNMAKE : fatal error U1077: 'C:\Users\Jake\AppData\Local\Temp\pip-build-env-rwbh8lfd\overlay\Lib\site-packages\cmake\data\bin\cmake.exe' : return code '0xffffffff'
          Stop.
          NMAKE : fatal error U1077: '"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.34.31933\bin\HostX86\x64\nmake.exe"' : return code '0x2'
          Stop.
     
     
     
     
     
        CMake will not be able to correctly generate this project.
      Call Stack (most recent call first):
        CMakeLists.txt:3 (ENABLE_LANGUAGE)
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeError.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 17 2022 x64 v143)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:2 (PROJECT):
        Running
     
         'nmake' '-?'
     
        failed with:
     
         The system cannot find the file specified
     
     
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 16 2019 x64 v142)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
     
     
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141)" generator
      --------------------------------
      ---------------------------
      ----------------------
      -----------------
      ------------
      -------
      --
      Not searching for unused variables given on the command line.
      CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:2 (PROJECT):
        Running
     
         'nmake' '-?'
     
        failed with:
     
         The system cannot find the file specified
     
      
      -- Configuring incomplete, errors occurred!
      See also "C:/Users/Jake/AppData/Local/Temp/pip-install-e4wqqvym/slycot_c942b6b612fc4cf2bc8380d816096410/_cmake_test_compile/build/CMakeFiles/CMakeOutput.log".
      --
      -------
      ------------
      -----------------
      ----------------------
      ---------------------------
      --------------------------------
      -- Trying "NMake Makefiles (Visual Studio 15 2017 x64 v141)" generator - failure
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
      ********************************************************************************
      scikit-build could not get a working generator for your system. Aborting build.
     
      Building windows wheels for Python 3.7 requires Microsoft Visual Studio 2022.
      Get it with "Visual Studio 2017":
     
        https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/
     
      Or with "Visual Studio 2019":
     
     
      Or with "Visual Studio 2022":
     
          https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/
     
      ********************************************************************************
      [end of output]

  note: This error originates from a subprocess, and is likely not a problem with pip.
  ERROR: Failed building wheel for slycot
Failed to build slycot
ERROR: Could not build wheels for slycot, which is required to install pyproject.toml-based projects

[bnavigator]

Hi,

1. Update Python itself. Python 3.7 is not supported by Slycot anymore due to numpy having it dropped (NEP29) this will make sure you try to compile Slycot 0.5.3 not 0.5.1
2. Make sure you did setup your build environment correctly: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/setting-the-path-and-environment-variables-for-command-line-builds
3. Sorry to say, but forget the idea that compiling something on Windows is easy and lightweight. Conda exists for a reason.

[roryyorke]

Thanks for the report, but as @bnavigator noted, building Slycot on Windows is a pain. There are some instructions in our README, but if I do development it's on Linux. I rely on conda-forge to make as installable version for Windows.