pulsar/docs/build-instructions/windows.md

# Windows

## Requirements

### On Windows 7
  * [Visual C++ 2010 Express](http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#DownloadFamilies_4)
  * [Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=23691)
  * [node.js](http://nodejs.org/download/) v0.10.x
    * For 64-bit builds of node and native modules you **must** have the
    [Windows 7 64-bit SDK](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8279).
    You may also need the [compiler update for the Windows SDK 7.1](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=4422)

  * [Python](http://www.python.org/download/) v2.7.x
    * Note: Python.exe must be available at: `%SystemDrive%\Python27\python.exe`. If it is installed elsewhere, create a symbolic link to the directory containing python.exe (like so: `mklink /d %SystemDrive%\Python27 D:\elsewhere\Python27`).
  * [GitHub for Windows](http://windows.github.com/)

### On Windows 8
  * [Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop](http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#DownloadFamilies_2)
  * [node.js](http://nodejs.org/download/) v0.10.x
  * [Python](http://www.python.org/download/) v2.7.x (required by [node-gyp](https://github.com/TooTallNate/node-gyp))
  * [GitHub for Windows](http://windows.github.com/)

## Instructions

  ```bat
  # Use the `Git Shell` app which was installed by GitHub for Windows. Also Make
  # sure you have logged into the GitHub for Windows GUI App.
  cd C:\
  git clone https://github.com/atom/atom/
  cd atom
  script/build # Creates application in the `Program Files` directory
  ```

## Why do I have to use GitHub for Windows?

You don't, You can use your existing Git! GitHub for Windows's Git Shell is just
easier to set up. You need to have Posix tools in your `%PATH%` (i.e. `grep`,
`sed`, et al.), which isn't the default configuration when you install Git. To
fix this, you probably need to fiddle with your system PATH.

## Troubleshooting

### Common Errors
* `node is not recognized`

  * If you just installed node you need to restart your computer before node is
  available on your Path.


* `script/build` outputs only the Node and Python versions before returning

  * Try moving the repository to `C:\atom`. Most likely, the path is too long.
    See [issue #2200](https://github.com/atom/atom/issues/2200).

* `error MSB4025: The project file could not be loaded. Invalid character in the given encoding.`

  * These can occur because your home directory (`%USERPROFILE%`) has non-ASCII
    characters in it. This is a bug in [gyp](https://code.google.com/p/gyp/)
    which is used to build native node modules and there is no known workaround.
    * https://github.com/TooTallNate/node-gyp/issues/297
    * https://code.google.com/p/gyp/issues/detail?id=393

### Windows build error reports in atom/atom
* Use [this search](https://github.com/atom/atom/search?q=label%3Abuild-error+label%3Awindows&type=Issues) to get a list of reports about build errors on Windows.