You can download the Community edition of Microsoft Visual Studio free for
personal use at:
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/community/
Click on "Download" and save the installer file.
VisualStudioInstaller.exe
It downloads stuff with progress bars. Then the installation panel comes up with lots of components. You can install additional components, but always select:
Desktop development with C++
An option pane comes up on the right side for C++ options. Several components will already be checked off; also check:
C++ MFC for latest v142 build tools (x86 & x64) C++ CLI support for latest v142 build tools (14.26)
In the lower right click "Install" to start the installiztion process. The Visual Studio Community 2022 progress bars pop up. This takes 10 minutes or so. After the install you will see a commercial for an Azure account that says:
Connect to all your developer services
You do not need to sign in and can just skip it by unchecking the box:
Authenticate across all Azure Active Directories on sign-n At the bottom click "Not now, maybe later".
It flips to a pane "Start with a familiar environment". On the pull down for "Development Settings" choose "Visual C++". You can also choose a color scheme from:
o Blue o Blue (Extra Contrast) o Dark o Light
At the bottom right click: "Start Visual Studio"
When the VS launch pane comes up. You can just close it or if you prefer start the IDE by choosing:
Continue without source code
The on the Windows Start Menu you can launch a command line with:
Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022"
When you run this you'll get the Command Prompt with the environment variables set up for C/C++.
Microsoft gives you a 30 day license for the professional version, after which you can downgrade to the Community edition. None of this is clearly explained. When the time comes to downgrade a notification will pop up when you launch Visual Studio. Click on this link:
Check for an updated license
Then sign in to your Microsoft account and it will say:
We have updated your license successfully.
The C/C++ compiler tools should be installed now.
If not, you can also find the tools here:
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/visual-cpp-build-tools
That page also links to usage notes on the C/C++ compiler:
Walkthrough: Compiling a Native C++ Program on the Command Line