How can I install C compiler properly for Python package installation for Windows?

Question

I believe I don't have my C compiler properly installed. I'm trying to install some Python 2.7 packages on my Windows 8 machine. I keep receiving the following error:

RuntimeError: Broken toolchain: cannot link a simple C program.

Python is installed properly and has been working well regularly. I've been using the virutalenv package and working in a virtual environment. I've then tried installing Cygwin, MinGW, and MS Visual Studios 2012, none of which seem to work in the virtualenv . I'm not sure what I am doing wrong, any help would be great.

Thank you, Jimmy

Answer 1

I'm having the same problem, despite installing gcc and mingw-gcc under CygWin, per scipy recommendations . But this might get you further down the track:

setup-x86_64.exe -q -n -N -d -R 'C:\cygwin64' -s 'http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/x86_64/release/' -l 'C:\Users\$USER\Downloads' -P git,wget,curl,python,gcc-core,mingw-gcc

Eventually I just had to mousily install all the Cygwin packages that came up in the search for "gcc". I only selected those under the "dev" category rather than "debug" and pip install numpy (which compiles and links a lot of C packages) worked fine. Here's my list of Cygwin packages .

I'm on Windows 7 (when I can't avoid it), but not Win 8.

Answer 2

I have installed the following packages and it seems to work:

• gcc-core
• make
• python-devel

Hope this would work for you as well.

PS: Used apt-cyg to do the install. https://github.com/transcode-open/apt-cyg