Building Makefile-NML projects under Windows (7 in my case)

[siu238X]

Hi all,

I am trying to test out translations on NML based NewGRF's and compile them using MinGW.

However, I found a file called (NewGRF_development_guide_for_Windows_users_0.9.0.pdf) under the URL http://dev.openttdcoop.org/projects/home/files, which instructed Windows users to install a virtual Fedora Linux to have a proper building environment.

Is there a method not as bulky as that?

[Trond]

I just use the windows binary from here to build my grf files from nml...

Or maybe I misunderstood your question?

[FooBar]

Or maybe I misunderstood your question?

I think you did. For simple projects the NML binary is sufficient. The bigger projects almost all use a makefile to precompile the NML file from a lot of separate files. The system used for this originates from Linux and is a bit of a b* to get to work on Windows properly.

The virtual linux is indeed bulky, but by far the easiest solution. If you don't want that, the alternatives are either MinGW/MSYS or Cygwin. I've tried both; it works, but my expecience with FIRS was that it needed 5 minutes rather than 30 seconds to build.

[mart3p]

When I was looking at continuing ISR development, I also looked at Foobar's "Guide to setting up a openttdcoop DevZone development environment on Windows". Like you, I thought installing virtual Fedora Linux sounded a bit bulky.

I went for the MinGW/MSYS option. Despite a few initial difficulties this is now working nicely. Planetmaker (following my suggestions) has recently made a number of improvements to the DevZone Make-NML system that improve windows compatibility. DevZone projects that use this recent makefile should compile without problems on Windows/MinGW.

As Foobar says, it is a bit slow but I don’t find it a problem. ISR compiles in 45 seconds on my system.

If you decide to try MinGW/MSYS and encounter problems I would be happy to help.

And off topic: thanks for your work on the ISR Chinese translations.

[siu238X]

Thanks for all your help.

My current problem is that I couldn't compile Python on MinGW. Fortunately I have found some comprehensive guide. I will try again when I get home tonight.

To mart3p: I LOVE ISR

[Eddi]

why would you need to compile python? just use the regular windows python, and make sure it's in the path.

[siu238X]

why would you need to compile python? just use the regular windows python, and make sure it's in the path.

Do you mean that, with suitable Windows binary of python and nml, I don't have to compile any src tarballs on MinGW, and I can simply open the repository and run "make"?

[Eddi]

yes, although i have not actually tested this.