Visual C++ is a powerful programming language and toolset that allows you to create native applications for Windows, Linux, and other platforms. In this article, you will learn what Visual C++ is, why you need it, what are its features, and how to download and install Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable on your computer.
Visual C++ is a component of Microsoft Visual Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) that provides a comprehensive set of tools for developing software. Visual C++ supports both C and C++, two of the most popular and widely used programming languages in the world. Visual C++ also includes Microsoft C and C++ (MSVC), a compiler that translates your source code into executable files that can run on various platforms.
You need Visual C++ if you want to develop native applications for Windows, Linux, or other platforms. Native applications are software programs that are optimized for a specific operating system and hardware architecture. They can take advantage of the features and capabilities of the platform they are running on, such as graphics, audio, networking, security, performance, and more.
Visual C++ allows you to create native applications using a variety of technologies, such as Windows API, DirectX, OpenGL, COM, .NET Framework, WinRT, MFC, ATL, WTL, STL, Boost, Qt, wxWidgets, and more. You can also use Visual C++ to create cross-platform applications that can run on multiple platforms with minimal changes.
Visual C++ 2017 is the latest version of Visual C++ that was released in March 2017 as part of Visual Studio 2017. Visual C++ 2017 has many features that make it easier and faster to develop native applications, such as:
Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable is a package that contains the runtime components of Visual C++ libraries that are required to run applications developed using Visual Studio 2017 on a computer that does not have Visual Studio 2017 installed. These components include DLLs, ActiveX controls, COM servers, and other files that are used by the application.
Visual C++ Redistributable is a term that refers to the collection of Visual C++ runtime components that are distributed with an application. These components are necessary for the application to run properly on a target machine that does not have the same version of Visual Studio or Visual C++ installed as the one used to develop the application.
Visual C++ Redistributable is different from Visual C++ Runtime Library, which is a term that refers to the set of functions and classes that are provided by Visual C++ for common tasks such as memory management, input/output, exception handling, and more. The Visual C++ Runtime Library is compiled into the application's executable file or DLLs, while the Visual C++ Redistributable is installed separately on the target machine.
There are several ways to check if you have Visual C++ Redistributable installed on your computer. One of the easiest ways is to use the Programs and Features applet in the Control Panel. To do this:
To download Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2017, you need to visit the official Microsoft website and choose the appropriate version for your system architecture (x86 or x64) and language. You can also choose between different versions of Visual Studio 2017 (Community, Professional, or Enterprise).
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After you download Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable for your system architecture and language, you need to install it on your computer. The installation process is simple and straightforward. Here are the steps to follow:
To run the installer, you need to double-click on the downloaded file (vc_redist.x86.exe or vc_redist.x64.exe) and follow the instructions on the screen. You may need to provide administrator permissions or enter your password to proceed.
Before you can install Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable, you need to accept the license agreement that appears on the screen. You can read the terms and conditions of the agreement by scrolling down or clicking on the link. To accept the agreement, you need to check the box that says "I agree to the license terms and conditions" and then click on the Install button.
By default, Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable will be installed in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Redist folder for x86 systems or in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Redist\x64 folder for x64 systems. You can change the installation location by clicking on the Options button and browsing to a different folder. However, we recommend that you use the default location unless you have a specific reason to change it.
After you click on the Install button, Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable will start installing on your computer. You can see the progress of the installation on the screen. When the installation is complete, you will see a message that says "Setup Successful". You can then click on the Close button to exit the installer.
To verify that Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable is installed correctly, you can go back to the Programs and Features applet in the Control Panel and look for Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable in the list of installed programs. You can also check if there are any files or folders related to Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable in the installation location that you chose.
In this article, you learned how to download and install Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable on your computer. You also learned what Visual C++ is, why you need it, what are its features, and what is Visual C++ Redistributable. We hope that this article was helpful and informative for you.