View source for Win32Compile

How to compile {{VLC}} for [[Windows]].

== Building Methods<br> ==

If you want to build VLC from source, you have several choices: 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Method 
! Documentation 
! Notes
|-
| '''Cross-compile with Mingw on Linux''' 
| This page 
| '''Preferred''' method (uses cross compilation). On Windows, you should do it in a virtual machine.
|-
| '''Native compilation''' with '''[http://www.mingw.org MSYS+MINGW]''' 
| [[Win32CompileMSYSNew]] 
| '''Native''' compilation method. MSYS is a minimal build environment to compile Unixish projects under Microsoft Windows.
|-
| '''Native compilation''' with '''cygwin''' 
| [[Win32CompileCygwinNew]] 
| Build using cygwin as your compile environment. '''Error''' prone, and '''slow'''.
|}


== Obtaining the toolchain  ==

Each build method requires its own toolchain: 

* '''Debian/Ubuntu''' users can <code>apt-get install gcc-mingw32 mingw32-binutils</code>.&nbsp;<code></code>
* '''Gentoo''' users can <code>emerge crossdev &amp;&amp; crossdev mingw32</code>
* '''ArchLinux''' users can <code>pacman -S mingw32-gcc</code>
* '''Fedora''' users should read [[Win32CompileFedora13]]
* Other '''Linux''' systems may attempt http://www.mingw.org/wiki/LinuxCrossMinGW
* Native-compile with '''[http://www.mingw.org MSYS+MINGW]''', should read the [[Win32CompileMSYSNew|documentation]]
* Native-compile with '''[http://www.cygwin.com Cygwin]''', should read the [[Win32CompileCygwinNew|documentation]]

=== tools ===
You will also need:
* lua5.1
* all autotools: libtool, automake, autoconf, autopoint, make, gettext
* pkg-config
* git
* subversion
* cmake, cvs if you want to rebuild contribs
* zip [for creating a .zip package], p7zip [for a .7z package], nsis [for a .exe auto-installer].

== Get the source code ==
 $ git clone git://git.videolan.org/vlc.git

== Prepare [[Contrib Status|3rd party libraries]]  ==

Before compiling VLC, you need lots of other libraries. Here is how to get them: 

  $ mkdir -p contrib/win32
  $ cd contrib/win32
  $ ../bootstrap --host=i586-mingw32msvc
  $ make prebuilt

or, if you want to compile the contribs yourself and are feeling adventurous and have lots of time to burn,

  $ mkdir -p contrib/win32
  $ cd contrib/win32
  $ ../bootstrap --host=i586-mingw32msvc
  $ make fetch
  $ make

=== Linux 64bits ===

If you are on linux '''64bits''', you '''MUST''' remove some files:

  $ rm -f ../i586-mingw32msvc/bin/moc ../i586-mingw32msvc/bin/uic ../i586-mingw32msvc/bin/rcc

And install your ''qt4-tools''.

=== Fix your contrib path ===

If your Mingw prefix is not ''i586-mingw32msvc'' (you are NOT on Debian or Ubuntu), create a symlink to contribs:
  $ ln -sf ../i586-mingw32msvc ../i486-mingw32

=== Go Back  ===

Go back to the VLC source directory: 

  $ cd -

== Configuring the build  ==

=== Bootstrap ===
First, prepare the tree:
  $ ./bootstrap

=== Configure ===
Then you can to configure the build with the <code>./configure</code> script. 

Create a subfolder:
  $ mkdir win32 && cd win32

Use the standard configuration: 
 $ ../extras/package/win32/configure.sh --host=i586-mingw32msvc
'''NB''': use '''YOUR''' Xcompiling prefix here, like ''i486-mingw32''


Alternatively, you can run configure manually:
 $ ../configure --host=i586-mingw32msvc
See <code>'../configure --help'</code> for more information.

== Building VLC  ==

Once configured, to build VLC, just run:
  $ make

== Packaging VLC ==
Once the compilation is done, you can build self-contained VLC packages with the following <code>make</code> rules: 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Command 
! Description
|-
| <code>make package-win-common</code>
| Creates a subdirectory named <code>vlc-x.x.x</code> with all the binaries. You can run VLC directly from this directory.
|-
| <code>make package-win-strip</code> (might be package-win32-strip)
| Same as above but will create 'stripped' binaries (that is, smallest size, unusable with a debugger).
|-
| <code>make package-win32-7zip</code>
| Same as above but will package the directory in a 7z file.
|-
| <code>make package-win32-zip</code>
| Same as above but will package the directory in a zip file.
|-
| <code>make package-win32</code>
| Same as above but will also create an auto-installer package. You must have NSIS installed in its default location for this to work.
|}

'''''Well done—you're ready to use VLC!''''' 

[[Category:Building]]