Compiler choices
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You have several choices for compiling the Source SDK:
- Visual Studio 2005 / Visual C++ Express 2005 — which are compatible 'out of the box'.
- Visual Studio 2008 / Visual C++ Express 2008 — which can be used after a bit of work.
- GCC — which is used to compile Linux Dedicated Servers.
If you own a copy of Visual Studio 2005/2008 you'll probably want to use that, and if you're compiling for Linux you don't have a choice to make. Which leaves only the Visual C++ Express versions to choose between:
- VCE2005
- Officially supported by Valve
- More established technology
- "Just works"
- VCE2008
- More recent - fewer bugs
- Nicer user interface
- Better support from Microsoft
Both are perfectly acceptable choices, providing for free all of the functionality needed to program and compile a mod. If you are unsure, choose 2005.
Additional SDKs
- VCE2005 users need to download the Windows SDK (Windows 2000 users: Platform SDK). Visual Studio and VCE2008 users do not.
- If you want to create new shaders, the DirectX SDK is required.