+ [Setup GYP/Ninja and generate VS solution](#setup-gypninja-and-generate-vs-solution)
+ [Configure VS](#configure-vs)
+ [Build the project](#build-the-project)
- [Install third party software](#install-third-party-software)
- [Clone source code and prepare libraries](#clone-source-code-and-prepare-libraries)
- [Build the project](#build-the-project)
- [Qt Visual Studio Tools](#qt-visual-studio-tools)
## Prepare folder
Choose a folder for the future build, for example **D:\\TBuild\\**. There you will have two folders, **Libraries** for third-party libs and **tdesktop** for the app.
Choose an empty folder for the future build, for example **D:\\TBuild**. It will be named ***BuildPath*** in the rest of this document. Create two folders there, ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty** and ***BuildPath*\\Libraries**
All commands (if not stated otherwise) will be launched from **VS2015 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt.bat** (should be in **Start Menu > Programs > Visual Studio 2015** menu folder). Pay attention not to use another VS2015 Command Prompt.
All commands (if not stated otherwise) will be launched from **x86 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2017.bat** (should be in **Start Menu > Visual Studio 2017** menu folder). Pay attention not to use any other Command Prompt.
#### A note on D:\\TBuild
## Install third party software
***In case you don't have a *D* drive, or prefer to use another working directory.***
Since all of the examples and commands here are using the *D* drive, you might find it more comfortable to map the drive to a folder you of your choice.
For example, to map *D:\\* to *C:\\base_folder_for_telegram_dev*, open the cmd and execute: `subst D: C:\base_folder_for_telegram_dev`.
* Download **ActivePerl** installer from [https://www.activestate.com/activeperl/downloads](https://www.activestate.com/activeperl/downloads) and install to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\Perl**
* Download **NASM** installer from [http://www.nasm.us](http://www.nasm.us) and install to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\NASM**
* Download **Yasm** executable from [http://yasm.tortall.net/Download.html](http://yasm.tortall.net/Download.html), rename to *yasm.exe* and put to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\yasm**
* Download **MSYS2** installer from [http://www.msys2.org/](http://www.msys2.org/) and install to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\msys64**
* Download **jom** archive from [http://download.qt.io/official_releases/jom/jom.zip](http://download.qt.io/official_releases/jom/jom.zip) and unpack to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\jom**
* Download **Python 2.7* installer from [https://www.python.org/downloads/](https://www.python.org/downloads/) and install to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\Python27**
* Download **CMake** installer from [https://cmake.org/download/](https://cmake.org/download/) and install to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\cmake**
* Download **Ninja** executable from [https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/releases/download/v1.7.2/ninja-win.zip](https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/releases/download/v1.7.2/ninja-win.zip) and unpack to ***BuildPath*\\ThirdParty\\Ninja**
## Clone source code
Open **x86 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2017.bat**, go to ***BuildPath*** and run
Download [yasm for Win64](http://www.tortall.net/projects/yasm/releases/yasm-1.3.0-win64.exe) from http://yasm.tortall.net/Download.html, rename **yasm-1.3.0-win64.exe** to **yasm.exe** and place it to your Visual C++ **bin** directory, like **\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio 14\\VC\\bin\\**
While still running the VS2015 x86 Native Tools Command Prompt, go to **D:\\msys64** and launch **msys2_shell.bat**. There run
PATH="/c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0/VC/BIN:$PATH"
cd qtbase && git apply ../../../tdesktop/Telegram/Patches/qtbase_5_6_2.diff && cd ..
#### Install Windows SDKs
If you didn't install Windows SDKs before, you need to install them now. To install the SDKs just open Telegram solution at **D:\TBuild\tdesktop\Telegram.sln** ([jump here to generate Telegram.sln](#setup-gypninja-and-generate-vs-solution)) and on startup Visual Studio 2015 will popup dialog box and ask to download and install extra components (including Windows 7 SDK).
If you already have Windows SDKs then find the library folder and correct it at configure's command below (like **C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Lib\win8\um\x86**).
* Open `D:\TBuild\Libraries\breakpad\src\client\windows\breakpad_client.sln` in VS2015
* Change `Treat WChar_t As Built in Type` to `No` in all projects & configurations (should be in Project -> Properties -> C/C++ -> Language)
* Change `Treat Warnings As Errors` to `No` in all projects & configurations (should be in Project -> Properties -> C/C++ -> General)
* Build Debug configuration
* Build Release configuration
## Building Telegram Desktop
#### Setup GYP/Ninja and generate VS solution
* Download [Ninja binaries](https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/releases/download/v1.7.1/ninja-win.zip) and unpack them to **D:\\TBuild\\Libraries\\ninja** to have **D:\\TBuild\\Libraries\\ninja\\ninja.exe**
SET PATH=%PATH%;D:\TBuild\Libraries\gyp;D:\TBuild\Libraries\ninja;
cd ..\..\tdesktop\Telegram
Also, actually add **D:\\TBuild\\Libraries\\ninja\\** (not just for running the **gyp** command) to your path environment variable, since Telegram needs it for the build process.
## Build the project
If you want to pass a build define (like `TDESKTOP_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE` or `TDESKTOP_DISABLE_NETWORK_PROXY`), call `set TDESKTOP_BUILD_DEFINES=TDESKTOP_DISABLE_AUTOUPDATE,TDESKTOP_DISABLE_NETWORK_PROXY,...` (comma seperated string)
After, call `gyp\refresh.bat` (python 2.7 needed)
After, call **gyp\refresh.bat** once again.
#### Configure VS
* Launch VS2015 for configuring Qt5Package
* QT5 > Qt Options > Add
* Version name: **Qt 5.6.22Win32**
* Path: **D:\TBuild\Libraries\qt5_6_2\qtbase**
* If you made a network map, here you should use the real path! (e.g *C:\base_folder_for_telegram_dev* or what you used at the beginning)
* Default Qt/Win version: **Qt 5.6.2 Win32**–**OK** - You may need to restart Visual Studio for this to take effect.
#### Build the project
* File > Open > Project/Solution > **D:\TBuild\tdesktop\Telegram\Telegram.sln**
* Open ***BuildPath*\\tdesktop\\Telegram\\Telegram.sln** in Visual Studio 2017
* Select Telegram project and press Build > Build Telegram (Debug and Release configurations)
* The result Telegram.exe will be located in **D:\TBuild\tdesktop\out\Debug** (and **Release**)
### Qt Visual Studio Tools
For better debugging you may want to install Qt Visual Studio Tools:
John Preston