How to build extensions on Windows?

[Kevin D. Smith]

I've written a simple Python extension for UNIX, but I need to get it 
working on Windows now.  I'm having some difficulties figuring out how 
to do this.  I've seen web pages that say that MS Visual Studio is 
required, and other that say that's not true, that MinGW will work.  
Then there is Mike Fletcher's web page 
(http://www.vrplumber.com/programming/mstoolkit/) that describes in 
detail how to build extensions, but most of the links to external 
software are no longer valid.  I think it's safe to say that I am 
completely lost, as there appears to be no authoritative, up-to-date 
description on how to make this work.

-- 
Kevin D. Smith