Msbuild: Standalone Build Tools update

Created on 12 Feb 2016 · 20Comments · Source: dotnet/msbuild

People often install Microsoft Build Tools 2015 alone on a build server, to avoid having to manage a full Visual Studio installation. But the latest Build Tools installer is for VS2015 RTM, and there's no way to update it (trying to run the full VS update installer fails because "nothing applicable" is installed).

This is something we can only fix internally, since it's official-release-process related.

Source

rainersigwald

Most helpful comment

This link still works for me:

https://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#d-build-tools

shows "Microsoft Build Tools 2015 Update 3"

However, it did redirect me to a "beta" website which I had to click "Exit" from and then navigate back to the link.

Direct download link: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=615458

DanTup on 31 Aug 2016

👍7

All 20 comments

If there's any workaround in the meantime (such as installing the original build tools and copying stuff from a VS machine), we'd be interested to know. We're keen to start using the new features, but we're nervous about some of the issues reported in the original release of the compilers :(

DanTup on 12 Feb 2016

I think managing the build tools on a server is a larger problem then just the MS Build Tools currently.
As there is no way to simple install everything you need on a CI.
Currently is seems to involve manual installation of Build Tools, SDK's and copying reference assemblies and msbuild targets from developer machines to get it to work.
It would be great if there was a better solution for the installation process of a CI for msbuild.

wgtmpeters on 22 Feb 2016

Do you know how likely this might be addressed in time for Update 2 RTM? If it's unlikely and we need to start adding the NuGet packages to our projects, it'd be good to get a head-start!

DanTup on 1 Mar 2016

@DanTup We've made the internal changes and daily builds of Update 2 RC are producing this installer. We do expect it to be released with RC and with RTM Update 2.

rainersigwald on 1 Mar 2016

@rainersigwald Excellent! Thanks for the update :)

DanTup on 1 Mar 2016

Update 2 RC has a Build Tools package available: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=518023. Please let us know if you try it and see any problems since the Update 2 RTM release is fast approaching.

EDIT: updated link.

rainersigwald on 4 Mar 2016

I'd be nervous about installing the RC on our production build server and don't easily have another way to test this; though I have faith in your ability to build the installer and presume the compilers will get a good testing by others :D

DanTup on 4 Mar 2016

That said; I'm presuming installing this would cause our builds to automatically use it; if it would need to us to change which MSBuild we call and wouldn't affect anything else then maybe we can test it (we're currently using a pre-2015 MSBuild (12?) and never installed the original version of these build tools).

DanTup on 4 Mar 2016

@DanTup Ah, that's interesting. I too would be nervous about applying the RC in production. Note that AFAIK the only way to use the updated Roslyn across the board would be to switch to MSBuild 14 (with Update 2)--MSBuild 12 should be untouched by this installation.

rainersigwald on 4 Mar 2016

Visual Studio 2015 Update 2 RTM is now available. Can we expect that an updated MSBuild will be released soon?

FranklinWhale on 31 Mar 2016

The updated tools appear to be here :)

https://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#d-build-tools

However there's a weird layout issue with that page so you'll have to scroll down to see them! (edit: strangely happens on Chrome on my machine, but not on our buildserver!)

DanTup on 31 Mar 2016

👍1

Maybe the Visual Studio Update 2 release should also mention the Build tools Update 2 and its location. Because its hard to find if you do not know where to look for it. Especially for users that have no idea that this was going to be release together with the update.

wgtmpeters on 31 Mar 2016

I found the link from this page:

https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/vs2015-update2-vs.aspx

It's under "Related releases" labelled "Microsoft Build Tools 2015 Update 2" :)

DanTup on 31 Mar 2016

👍1

My bad! Guess my eyes skip over that part :)

wgtmpeters on 31 Mar 2016

I created a GitHub release for Update 2, which links to both the overall update announcement page and the Build Tools standalone installer. Thanks for making finding those links easy, @DanTup :grinning:

rainersigwald on 1 Apr 2016

👍1

@DanTup the page no longer has the build tools under Related Releases section
@rainersigwald the link to the update 2 installer no longer exists
I wish Microsoft had a proper download page for it. Fortunately, I am an MSDN subscriber and it's available as a download. It's good to know that money still works.