Licence Visual C++ Build Tools for Enterprise - No clear answers

Question

_{Thursday, November 7, 2019 10:25 AM}

hi,

I have been searching MSDN forums for a clear answer to the question: Can I install VS build tools as support for using Python scripts? This is for commercial use without a VS community license. 

Some threads on MSDN says no, others say yes. Some of the threads refer to claims from Microsoft officials. 

When I read the license terms on, it is stated that 

"You and others in your organization may use these items on your build machines solely for the purpose of compiling, building, verifying and archiving your applications or running quality or performance tests as part of the build process."

does that mean that the answer is "YES, you can use build tools for free" ?

All replies (3)

_{Thursday, November 7, 2019 10:19 PM}

after doing some investigation: Its possible to run cx_Oracle without installing all build tools. You only need to install the visual C++ redistributrable.

_{Friday, November 8, 2019 2:43 AM}

Hi Øyvind R,

Welcome to MSDN forum.

We are glad to hear that you have find another workaround and we appreciate that you share this workaround here.

>> Can I install VS build tools as support for using Python scripts? This is for commercial use without a VS community license.

## Yes, you could use VS build tools as support for using Python scripts and for commercial use without a VS community license.

## One thing you need to notice is that you need to comply with any technical limitations in the software. This is the Microsoft Visual C++ Build Tools license.(Maybe you have read it)

>> Does that mean that the answer is “YES, you can use build tools for free”?

## Since Build Tools is a “suplement” to VS, If you meet the requirements of using Visual Studio Community you could use Build Tools for free and if not (not match the license this whitepaper License for VS Community 2019 said, maybe you are an “enterprise” or not match the Organizational License) you need a valid paid license.

## If you meet the requirement I said above, it means “yes, you can use build tools for free”.

Hope all above could help you.

Best Regards,

Tianyu

MSDN Community Support
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact [email protected].

_{Tuesday, November 12, 2019 9:38 AM}

Hi Øyvind R,

Sorry for bothering you.

The msbuild is free and open-source build tools, so of course, you could use it for free, and you could read source code from Github page.

Best Regards,

Dylan

MSDN Community Support Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if not. This can be beneficial to other community members reading this thread. If you have any compliments or complaints to MSDN Support, feel free to contact [email protected]