problem building python 3.5 extensions for windows

[Phil Thompson]

On 21 Sep 2015, at 3:00 pm, Robin Becker <robin at reportlab.com> wrote:
> 
> ........
>> 
>> The most reported problem trying to build anything on Windows that is Python
>> related.
>> 
> .........
>> 
>> I'd be inclined to go for the reinstall, painful as that might be.  I've tried
>> finding the batch file as a separate download but there's just too many hits
>> about "download Visual Studio".
>> 
> I think that's where I'm headed.
> 
> Sadly this has been the worst python upgrade for a long time in windows land. I would gladly forgo all the bells and whistles for a simple install of the C compiler, but I'm never certain that I'll be able to do cross-compiles etc etc etc  :(

I had no problems with the community edition. Just select a Custom install and select "Common Tools for Visual C++ 2015" as the only feature. That gave me command shells in the start menu for native and cross-compilers.

Phil