Python 2.7.7 package installation giving Visual C++ cl.exe error: command failed with exit status 2

Question

Python 2.7.7 is giving Visual C++ issues when installing a package. I get the following error:

error: Setup script exited with error: command 'C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\
    \Microsoft\\Visual C++ for Python\\9.0\\VC\\Bin\\cl.exe' failed with exit status
     2*

1. I am on Windows Vista, Python 2.7.7
2. I installed the package via the Windows cmd terminal, using "setup.py install"
3. I have installed "Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler for Python 2.7" and ensured the path "C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft\\Visual C++ for Python\\9.0\\VC\\Bin\\cl.exe" contains "cl.exe"
4. As per the advice here . I have checked that my Visual C++ version is compatible with my version of Python. (I have a "Visual C++ 2008 32-bit Command Prompt" shortcut at "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler Package for Python 2.7". The 2008 version is the correct version for my version of python. (both are MSC v.1500.) )
5. I have updated python setuptools to setuptools 17.1.1

Below is a transcript of the installation process just before the error occured:

Searching for python-axolotl-curve25519
Reading https://pypi.python.org/simple/python-axolotl-curve25519/
Best match: python-axolotl-curve25519 0.1
Downloading https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/p/python-axolotl-curve25519/
python-axolotl-curve25519-0.1.tar.gz#md5=f28d902df9044f0bf86a35a4bd2ec092
Processing python-axolotl-curve25519-0.1.tar.gz
Writing c:\users\eg\appdata\local\temp\easy_install-l68mxp\python-axolotl-curve2
5519-0.1\setup.cfg
Running python-axolotl-curve25519-0.1\setup.py -q bdist_egg --dist-dir c:\users\
eg\appdata\local\temp\easy_install-l68mxp\python-axolotl-curve25519-0.1\egg-dist
-tmp-hvxf2n
curve25519module.c
curve25519module.c(76) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before 'type'
curve25519module.c(78) : error C2065: 'result' : undeclared identifier
curve25519module.c(82) : error C2143: syntax error : missing '{' before '*'
curve25519module.c(100) : warning C4133: 'return' : incompatible types - from 'P
yObject *' to 'int *'
curve25519module.c(146) : warning C4133: 'initializing' : incompatible types - f
rom 'int *(__cdecl *)(PyObject *,PyObject *)' to 'PyCFunction'
**error: Setup script exited with error: command 'C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\
\Microsoft\\Visual C++ for Python\\9.0\\VC\\Bin\\cl.exe' failed with exit status
 2**

I am new to this and have no idea what else to try. Would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Came across this issue when installing pycocotools on windows 10. Python 2.7 does not support Visual C++ 14 that is required to compile C99 code. This is the reason for the compiling errors (C2065,C4133 etc).

I was able to solve this by,

1. Installing Visual Studio 2015 build tools (this will install C++ 14 compiler).
2. Installing a new newer version of Python (3.6 recommended)

More about Windows Compilers for Python here . Also check this post .