Introduction
This guide walks you through installing Visual Studio on Windows with everything you need to build native C++ applications using DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.
We will use the free Community edition, but the steps are identical for Professional or Enterprise.
System Requirements
| Component | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 version 1809+ or Windows 11 |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz or faster (quad-core recommended) |
| RAM | 4 GB (8 GB+ recommended for large shader compiles) |
| Disk space | ~20 GB (C++ toolchain + graphics SDKs) |
| Graphics | DirectX 11/12 capable GPU (for running samples) |
⚠️ Graphics programming requires a GPU that supports the API version you are targeting.
Download the Visual Studio Bootstrapper
Installing Visual Studio is easy, Microsoft provide you with the bootstrapper/installer which pretty much does everything for you automatically. To install the boostrapper:
- Visit the official download page:
- Under the Community section, click Free download.
- Save the bootstrapper file (e.g.,
vs_Community.exe) to your computer.
Run the Installer and Select the Correct Workload
Double-click the bootstrapper. When the Visual Studio Installer opens, choose this workload:
| Workload | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Desktop development with C++ | The MSVC compiler, C++ standard library, CMake integration, and the core Windows SDK. |
Do not select any other workloads (like .NET, Python, or Unity) – they are not needed for Kemena3D.
Optional Individual Components (pre-selected by default, but verify):
Click the Individual components tab and ensure these are checked:
- MSVC v143 - VS 2022 C++ x64/x86 build tools (latest compiler)
- Windows 10/11 SDK (contains DirectX headers, libraries, and d3dcompiler_47.dll)
- C++ CMake tools for Windows (if you prefer CMake over classic .sln projects)
- Windows Universal C Runtime (always included)
You do not need:
- C++/CLI support
- C++ modules
- Any Linux/Embedded/IoT tools
Graphics API Specific Notes (Read Before Installing)
DirectX
- The Windows SDK (selected above) includes all DirectX headers (d3d11.h, d3d12.h, dxgi.h, etc.) and libraries.
- For legacy DirectX 9/10, you may need the older June 2010 DirectX SDK – but this is rarely needed for modern development. Stick with the Windows SDK.
OpenGL
- OpenGL headers and libraries (gl.h, opengl32.lib) are already part of Windows. Visual Studio finds them automatically.
- However, most modern OpenGL applications use GLFW (for window creation) and GLAD / GLEW (for loading extensions). These are not installed by Visual Studio – you will add them later via vcpkg, CMake, or manual download.
Vulkan
- Vulkan is not included with Visual Studio or the Windows SDK.
- You must download the official Vulkan SDK separately from LunarG:
- The Vulkan SDK includes:
- Vulkan headers and loader (
vulkan.h,vulkan-1.dll) - Validation layers
- Shader compiler (
glslangValidator.exe/dxc.exe) - Debugging tools (like
Vulkan Configurator)
- Vulkan headers and loader (
🛠️ Install the Vulkan SDK after Visual Studio – its installer will automatically detect your MSVC compiler and integrate with it.
Start the Installation
After you have confirmed what you want to install, you may start the installation process:
- Click the Install button at the bottom right.
- The download and installation will begin. This takes 20 – 40 minutes depending on your internet speed.
- Once finished, you will see a Launch button.
Modifying or Updating Your Installation
If you ever need to add missing components (e.g., a different MSVC version, the C++ profiling tools, or an updated Windows SDK):
- Download the SDK from LunarG.
- Run the installer – it will ask for the installation path and offer to integrate with Visual Studio.
- After installation, create a new C++ project and test:
Installing Vulkan SDK (optional)
To update Visual Studio to a newer minor version (e.g., 17.10 → 17.11), click Update in the installer instead of Modify.
- Open the Visual Studio Installer from the Start Menu.
- Find your installed version and click Modify.
- In the Workloads tab, ensure Desktop development with C++ is still checked.
- Switch to the Individual components tab to add or remove specific tools:
- Add a newer Windows SDK version if needed.
- Add the C++ AddressSanitizer for memory debugging.
- Add the vcpkg package manager to easily install graphics libraries (GLFW, Vulkan‑headers, etc.).
- Click Modify at the bottom right to apply changes.
Happy building Kemena3D!