Compile on Windows with VS2013

Windows Libpack
First you'll need to download a Windows Libpack. FreeCAD Windows Libpacks are available here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/files/FreeCAD%20LibPack/

Libpacks are available for x32 and x64 for VC12(Visual Studio 2013), VC11(Visual Studio 2012), and VC9(Visual Studio 2008) The Libpacks will work with both the Professional and Express/Community Editions of Visual Studio. Choose the Libpack relevant to your system architecture and Compiler.

Assuming that your Win Vista or later, x64, and plan to use VS2013 Community Edition choose:

FreeCADLibs_11.0_x64_VC12.7z

Extract the Libpack to a directory on your hard drive.

You can download 7-zip if you need it here: http://www.7-zip.org/

Using Git(Preferred)
Next you will need to install git to be able to download the source code. You can get Git here: http://git-scm.com/downloads

Some information how to set-up a local tracking branch and a working branch can be found here:http://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Source_code_management

To create a local tracking branch and download the source code you need to open a terminal(command prompt) and cd to the directory you want the source, then type:

git clone git://git.code.sf.net/p/free-cad/code free-cad-code

Download Snapshot .zip(Alternate)
http://sourceforge.net/p/free-cad/code/ci/master/tarball

You will need to extract this to a directory using 7zip or Window's default .zip extractor.

NOTE: In order for Cmake to properly update your "About FreeCAD" information git must be installed and be present in your PATH environment variable, Therefore downloading with git is preferred.

Cmake
Next you will need Cmake, you can get it here: http://www.cmake.org/download/

Current master will build with Cmake 3.x.x, so on Windows at least you can download the latest version. You should choose the non-default option to add Cmake to your system PATH environment variable.

Visual Studio
Lastly you will need the C-compiler. MS VS 12 2013 Community Edition Update 4 is Free for personal and Open Source Projects. It can be downloaded here:

http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/vs2013-community-vs.aspx

Now you have the source code and the tools you'll need to compile FreeCAD on Windows.

Configuring and Generating with Cmake
Start the CMake GUI by double-clicking on the desktop icon created during installation. Specify source folder (This is where you cloned or extracted the source code) Specify build folder (This is where you want to build the source, if it doesn't exist Cmake will prompt you to create it) Click Configure Specify the generator as Visual Studio 12 x64(or the alternate C-Compiler you are using)

This will begin configuration and should fail because the location of FREECAD_LIBPACK_DIR is unset.

Expand the FREECAD category and set FREECAD_LIBPACK_DIR to the correct location Check FREECAD_USE_EXTERNAL_PIVY Click Configure again There should be no errors Click Generate Close CMake Copy libpack\bin folder into the new build folder CMake created

Building with Visual Studio
Open Visual Studio 12 2013 File -> Open -> Project/Solution Open FreeCAD_Trunk.sln from the build folder CMake created Switch the Solutions Configuration dropdown at the top to Release X64 Build -> Build Solution to build This will take a long time...

If you don't get any errors your done. Exit VS and start freecad from the bin folder of the build directory.