Finding compilers & libraries to build C++ code

[gavenkoa]

I used die http://ntinfo.biz/index.html#detect_it_easy too to find out Civ4 (BtS) tools used to build executable:

Linker: Microsoft linker(7.10.3077)
Compiler: Visual C/C++(13.10.3077)[C++]
Library: Python(2.4)
Tool: Microsoft Visual Studio(2003)
Sign tool: Generic(2.0)[PKCS #7]

As it is known you can't mix C runtimes and Microsoft proudly breaks compatibility with each toolset major release:

* https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/porting/visual-cpp-change-history-2003-2015
* https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cp...ors-passing-crt-objects-across-dll-boundaries

Visual Studio 2003 is no longer sold.

Microsoft first time in a history released no-cost toolset to build C++ programs that compatible with MSVC 2003, two essential components:

* Windows Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK
* Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003

As of end of 2019 MS still provides downloads for free SDK:

* Windows® Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK exe - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=12261
* Windows® Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK ISO - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15656

5.2.3790.1830.15.PlatformSDK_Svr2003SP1_rtm.iso
md5 dd26a923e94efd35878d9a725f012660
sha1 ee43b337d9739a4da3417b8eaca36cfafaa41de7
sha256 7ef138b07a8ed2e008371d8602900eb68e86ac2a832d16b53f462a9e64f24d53

But you no longer find Toolkit officially, original links:

* http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/
* http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...9d-40bb-49fd-9cb0-4bfa122fa91b&displaylang=en
* http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/9/b/39bac755-0a1e-4d0b-b72c-3a158b7444c4/VCToolkitSetup.exe

I found there were two version of VCToolkitSetup.exe:

http://npg.dl.ac.uk/MIDAS/MIDAS_Release/VCToolkitSetup.exe
MD5 3e1e1cad2e4b4e2427dbe4616cccaa02
SHA-1 956c81c3106b97042c4126b23c81885c4b5211f4
SHA-256 03aad135c22e953e0928b118705338afdbd08abf8e4039038ef77945504e65fa
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file...338afdbd08abf8e4039038ef77945504e65fa/details
signed: ‎Wednesday, ‎April ‎14, ‎2004 01:55:23

and

httpː//kael.civfanatics.net/files/VCToolkitSetup.exe
MD5 90d8b963ca196aa9855b2ca6c3174c14
SHA-1 50dc6cca1503f08a41d56816f3f1abcaf347b0bd
SHA-256 c040f6ffbc2259426dd523b7561575fe1704b58bc37092fbfe27b64aefc449f6
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file...575fe1704b58bc37092fbfe27b64aefc449f6/details
signed: Wednesday, ‎June ‎30, ‎2004 00:31:54

Both executables are signed by Microsoft and hash-sums are mentioned by trusted sources.

I don't know why Microsoft decided to re-release installed by I think it is better to stick to later version.

I hope hash sums help to find files (when links will die) and to verify integrity to avoid Malwere.