Create hello.c :
For most users today, the Visual Studio Build Tools 2022 with the "Desktop development with C++" workload is the best and most future-proof choice. download nmake for windows
Download the SDK version required (e.g., Windows 10 SDK or Windows 8.1 SDK). Create hello
# Simple makefile example all: hello.exe hello.exe: hello.obj link hello.obj You should see help output listing options like
nmake /? You should see help output listing options like /F , /X , /N , etc. Create a file named makefile (no extension) with the following content:
After installation, NMAKE will be available inside the Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt. You can find this shortcut in the Start Menu under "Visual Studio 2022" -> "Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022". Option 3: Older Windows SDKs (For Legacy Projects) Some legacy projects specifically require NMAKE from the Windows SDK (e.g., Windows 7 or 8.1 SDK). These are still available but not recommended for new work.