User guide

4.4. Microsoft compiler toolchain (Win32

native)

To compile Wireshark on Windows using the Microsoft C/C++ compiler, you'll need:

1. C compiler (cl.exe)

2. Linker (link.exe)

3. Make (nmake.exe)

4. C runtime headers and libraries (e.g. stdio.h, msvcrt.lib)

5. Windows platform headers and libraries (e.g. windows.h, WSock32.lib)

6. HTML help headers and libraries (htmlhelp.h, htmlhelp.lib)

4.4.1. Toolchain Package Alternatives

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition is recommended to compile Wireshark - it's free

(as in beer) and gives by far the best development comfort (compared to the other free packages).

However, you might already have a different Microsoft C compiler installed. With the following dif-

ferences to the recommendations it's possible to use it as well:

Compiler

Package

IDE /

Debugger?

Publicly

available?

Platform

SDK

required?

con-

fig.nmake:

MS-

VC_VARIA

set compiler

PATH and

alike settings

with:

Remarks

Tool Reference