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READ THE CODE

Inside Bitcoin

The code behind the network, with room to understand it.

Stable release v32.1bitcoin/bitcoin · f0de87f04062 ↗3,020 source files · 47.5 MB stored on the server440 file guides

Release published 2026-10-28 · Snapshot fetched 2026-11-01. Latest stable release at fetch time; development branches and Git history are excluded. Only the selected code window and visible folders load here.

bitcoin / bitcoinstable

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bitcoin / doc / build-windows-msvc.md

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1# Windows / MSVC Build Guide
2
3This guide describes how to build bitcoind, command-line utilities, and GUI on Windows using Microsoft Visual Studio.
4
5For cross-compiling options, please see [`build-windows.md`](./build-windows.md).
6
7## Preparation
8
9### 1. Install Required Dependencies
10
11The first step is to install the required build applications. The instructions below use WinGet to install the applications.
12
13WinGet is available on all supported Windows versions. The applications mentioned can also be installed manually.
14
15#### Visual Studio
16
17This guide relies on using CMake and vcpkg package manager provided with the Visual Studio installation.
18
19Minimum required version: Visual Studio 2026 version 18.3 with the "Desktop development with C++" workload.
20
21To install Visual Studio Community Edition with the necessary components, run:
22
23```powershell
24winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudio.Community --override "--wait --quiet --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeDesktop --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Git --includeRecommended"
25```
26
27This installs:
28- Visual Studio
29- The "Desktop development with C++" workload (NativeDesktop)
30- Git component
31
32After installation, the commands in this guide should be executed in "Developer PowerShell for VS" or "Developer Command Prompt for VS".
33The former is assumed hereinafter.
34
35#### Python
36
37Python is required for running the test suite.
38
39To install Python, run:
40
41```powershell
42winget install python3
43```
44
45### 2. Clone Bitcoin Repository
46
47`git` should already be installed as a component of Visual Studio. If not, download and install [Git for Windows](https://git-scm.com/downloads/win).
48
49Clone the Bitcoin Core repository to a directory. All build scripts and commands will run from this directory.
50
51```powershell
52git clone https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git
53```
54
55
56## Triplets and Presets
57
58The Bitcoin Core project supports the following vcpkg triplets:
59- `x64-windows` (both CRT and library linkage is dynamic)
60- `x64-windows-static` (both CRT and library linkage is static)
61
62To facilitate build process, the Bitcoin Core project provides presets, which are used in this guide.
63
64Available presets can be listed as follows:
65```powershell
66cmake --list-presets
67```
68
69By default, all presets set `BUILD_GUI` to `ON`.
70
71## Building
72
73CMake will put the resulting object files, libraries, and executables into a dedicated build directory.
74
75In the following instructions, the "Debug" configuration can be specified instead of the "Release" one.
76
77Run `cmake -B build -LH` to see the full list of available options.
78
79### Building with Static Linking with GUI
80
81```powershell
82cmake -B build --preset vs2026-static          # It might take a while if the vcpkg binary cache is unpopulated or invalidated.
83cmake --build build --config Release           # Append "-j N" for N parallel jobs.
84ctest --test-dir build --build-config Release  # Append "-j N" for N parallel tests.
85cmake --install build --config Release         # Optional.
86```
87
88### Building with Dynamic Linking without GUI
89
90```powershell
91cmake -B build --preset vs2026 -DBUILD_GUI=OFF # It might take a while if the vcpkg binary cache is unpopulated or invalidated.
92cmake --build build --config Release           # Append "-j N" for N parallel jobs.
93ctest --test-dir build --build-config Release  # Append "-j N" for N parallel tests.
94```
95
96### vcpkg-specific Issues and Workarounds
97
98vcpkg installation during the configuration step might fail for various reasons unrelated to Bitcoin Core.
99
100If the failure is due to a "Buildtrees path … is too long" error, which is often encountered when building
101with `BUILD_GUI=ON` and using the default vcpkg installation provided by Visual Studio, you can
102specify a shorter path to store intermediate build files by using
103the [`--x-buildtrees-root`](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcpkg/commands/common-options#buildtrees-root) option:
104
105```powershell
106cmake -B build --preset vs2026-static -DVCPKG_INSTALL_OPTIONS="--x-buildtrees-root=C:\vcpkg"
107```
108
109If vcpkg installation fails with the message "Paths with embedded space may be handled incorrectly", which
110can occur if your local Bitcoin Core repository path contains spaces, you can override the vcpkg install directory
111by setting the [`VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR`](https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg-docs/blob/main/vcpkg/users/buildsystems/cmake-integration.md#vcpkg_installed_dir) variable:
112
113```powershell
114cmake -B build --preset vs2026-static -DVCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR="C:\path_without_spaces"
115```
116
117## Performance Notes
118
119### vcpkg Manifest Default Features
120
121One can skip vcpkg manifest default features to speed up the configuration step.
122For example, the following invocation will skip all features except for "wallet" and "tests" and their dependencies:
123```powershell
124cmake -B build --preset vs2026 -DVCPKG_MANIFEST_NO_DEFAULT_FEATURES=ON -DVCPKG_MANIFEST_FEATURES="wallet;tests" -DBUILD_GUI=OFF -DWITH_ZMQ=OFF
125```
126
127Available features are listed in the [`vcpkg.json`](/vcpkg.json) file.
128
129### Antivirus Software
130
131To improve the build process performance, one might add the Bitcoin repository directory to the Microsoft Defender Antivirus exclusions.
132

A READING COMPANION

Source available. Guide coming next.

This file is included in the stable source snapshot. A file-specific guide has not been published yet.

440 guided files · 2,580 pending. Guides cover key sections, not every line.

cmake/bitcoin-build-config.h.in src/consensus/amount.h src/consensus/consensus.h src/primitives/block.h src/primitives/transaction.h src/crypto/sha256.h src/util/moneystr.h src/clientversion.h src/uint256.h src/script/script.h src/policy/policy.h CMakeLists.txt README.md COPYING src/consensus/tx_check.cpp src/consensus/tx_verify.cpp src/consensus/merkle.cpp src/pow.cpp src/validation.cpp src/script/interpreter.cpp src/script/solver.cpp src/script/sign.cpp src/key_io.cpp src/net.cpp src/net_processing.cpp src/netaddress.cpp src/protocol.h src/wallet/wallet.cpp src/wallet/spend.cpp

Code page 1

src/wallet/receive.cpp

src/wallet/coinselection.cpp

src/wallet/fees.cpp

src/wallet/load.cpp

src/txmempool.cpp

src/node/miner.cpp

src/chainparams.cpp

src/consensus/validation.h

src/primitives/transaction.cpp

src/script/descriptor.cpp

src/bitcoin-cli.cpp

src/rpc/blockchain.cpp

src/rpc/rawtransaction.cpp

src/crypto/sha256.cpp

src/serialize.h

src/consensus/merkle.h

src/consensus/tx_check.h

src/consensus/tx_verify.h

src/policy/feerate.h

src/policy/feerate.cpp

src/primitives/transaction_identifier.h

src/chainparamsbase.h

src/chainparamsbase.cpp

src/util/moneystr.cpp

src/crypto/ripemd160.h

src/crypto/sha1.h

src/crypto/sha512.h

src/crypto/hmac_sha256.h

src/crypto/hmac_sha512.h

src/crypto/hmac_sha256.cpp

src/crypto/hmac_sha512.cpp

src/crypto/hkdf_sha256_32.h

src/crypto/hkdf_sha256_32.cpp

src/support/cleanse.h

src/support/cleanse.cpp

src/arith_uint256.h

src/blockencodings.h

src/blockfilter.h

src/crypto/siphash.h

src/crypto/siphash.cpp

src/crypto/muhash.h

src/crypto/chacha20.h

src/crypto/poly1305.h

src/crypto/chacha20poly1305.h

src/crypto/chacha20poly1305.cpp

src/compressor.h

src/compressor.cpp

src/flatfile.cpp

src/dbwrapper.h

src/util/chaintype.h

src/util/chaintype.cpp

src/scheduler.h

src/scheduler.cpp

src/checkqueue.h

src/threadsafety.h

src/util/obfuscation.h

src/util/byte_units.h

src/util/overflow.h

src/blockencodings.cpp

src/blockfilter.cpp

src/merkleblock.cpp

src/merkleblock.h

src/addrman.cpp

src/netgroup.cpp

src/net_permissions.cpp

src/netbase.cpp

src/torcontrol.cpp

src/net_types.h

src/net_types.cpp

src/policy/packages.cpp

src/policy/rbf.cpp

src/policy/truc_policy.cpp

src/policy/ephemeral_policy.cpp

src/policy/settings.cpp

src/policy/policy.cpp

src/node/transaction.cpp

src/node/coin.cpp

src/rpc/client.cpp

src/rpc/external_signer.cpp

src/rpc/request.cpp

src/rpc/server_util.cpp

src/rpc/fees.cpp

src/rpc/output_script.cpp

src/rpc/rawtransaction_util.cpp

src/rpc/server.cpp

src/rpc/mempool.cpp

src/rpc/mining.cpp

src/rpc/net.cpp

src/rpc/node.cpp

src/rpc/blockchain.h

src/rpc/client.h

src/rpc/mempool.h

src/rpc/mining.h

src/rpc/rawtransaction_util.h

src/rpc/register.h

src/rpc/request.h

src/rpc/server_util.h

src/rpc/protocol.h

src/rpc/server.h

src/rpc/signmessage.cpp

src/rpc/txoutproof.cpp

src/rpc/util.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/addresses.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/backup.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/coins.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/encrypt.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/signmessage.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/util.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/util.h

src/wallet/coincontrol.cpp

src/wallet/coincontrol.h

src/wallet/context.cpp

src/wallet/context.h

src/wallet/crypter.cpp

src/wallet/crypter.h

src/wallet/db.cpp

src/wallet/export.cpp

src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/spend.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/transactions.cpp

src/wallet/rpc/wallet.cpp

src/wallet/feebumper.cpp

src/wallet/feebumper.h

src/index/base.h

src/index/base.cpp

src/index/txindex.h

src/index/txindex.cpp

src/index/txindex_key.h

src/index/txospenderindex.h

src/index/txospenderindex.cpp

src/index/blockfilterindex.h

src/index/blockfilterindex.cpp

src/index/coinstatsindex.h

src/index/coinstatsindex.cpp

src/index/db_key.h

src/index/disktxpos.h

src/kernel/chain.cpp

src/kernel/chain.h

src/kernel/checks.cpp

src/kernel/checks.h

src/kernel/context.cpp

src/kernel/context.h

src/kernel/cs_main.cpp

src/kernel/cs_main.h

src/kernel/disconnected_transactions.cpp

src/kernel/disconnected_transactions.h

src/kernel/mempool_removal_reason.cpp

src/kernel/mempool_removal_reason.h

src/kernel/coinstats.cpp

src/kernel/coinstats.h

src/kernel/chainparams.cpp

src/kernel/chainparams.h

src/wallet/sqlite.cpp

src/wallet/sqlite.h

src/wallet/transaction.cpp

src/wallet/transaction.h

src/wallet/dump.cpp

src/wallet/dump.h

src/wallet/init.cpp

src/wallet/walletutil.cpp

src/wallet/walletutil.h

src/wallet/wallettool.cpp

src/wallet/wallettool.h

src/wallet/export.h

src/wallet/migrate.cpp

src/wallet/migrate.h

src/wallet/db.h

src/wallet/walletdb.cpp

src/wallet/interfaces.cpp

src/wallet/scriptpubkeyman.cpp

src/wallet/scriptpubkeyman.h

src/kernel/bitcoinkernel.cpp

src/kernel/bitcoinkernel.h

src/kernel/bitcoinkernel_wrapper.h

src/node/abort.cpp

src/node/abort.h

src/node/caches.cpp

src/node/caches.h

src/kernel/caches.h

src/node/chainstate.cpp

src/node/chainstate.h

src/node/blockstorage.cpp

src/node/blockstorage.h

src/node/mempool_persist.cpp

src/node/mempool_persist.h

src/node/utxo_snapshot.cpp

src/node/utxo_snapshot.h

src/node/kernel_notifications.cpp

src/node/kernel_notifications.h

src/node/blockmanager_args.cpp

src/kernel/blockmanager_opts.h

src/util/expected.cpp

src/policy/settings.h

src/util/types.h

src/kernel/messagestartchars.h

src/kernel/warning.h

src/util/exception.h

src/common/license_info.h

src/node/coins_view_args.h

src/node/database_args.h

src/util/batchpriority.h

src/util/ui_change_type.h

src/node/coins_view_args.cpp

src/node/peerman_args.h

src/util/serfloat.h

src/node/blockmanager_args.h

src/node/database_args.cpp

src/util/overloaded.h

src/util/rbf.cpp

src/util/thread.h

src/common/netif.h

src/common/url.h

src/interfaces/types.h

src/node/chainstatemanager_args.h

src/node/minisketchwrapper.h

src/util/macros.h

src/util/syserror.h

src/common/run_command.h

src/util/bytevectorhash.cpp

src/node/mempool_persist_args.cpp

src/util/exec.h

src/crypto/hex_base.h

src/node/mempool_persist_args.h

src/interfaces/echo.h

src/util/batchpriority.cpp

src/util/threadnames.h

src/node/coin.h

src/node/mempool_args.h

src/util/asmap.h

src/util/bytevectorhash.h

src/node/context.cpp

src/util/insert.h

src/util/readwritefile.h

src/util/thread.cpp

src/kernel/types.h

src/interfaces/rpc.h

src/util/fees.cpp

src/node/peerman_args.cpp

src/node/interface_ui.cpp

src/interfaces/handler.h

src/node/mining_args.h

src/util/hasher.cpp

src/common/init.h

src/kernel/mempool_limits.h

src/common/system.h

src/crypto/sha3.h

src/util/threadinterrupt.cpp

src/node/protocol_version.h

src/util/exception.cpp

src/common/messages.h

src/node/connection_types.cpp

src/util/bip32.h

src/common/license_info.cpp

src/util/stdmutex.h

src/common/run_command.cpp

src/util/check.cpp

src/util/golombrice.h

src/node/types.h

src/node/timeoffsets.h

src/util/readwritefile.cpp

src/util/fastrange.h

src/util/signalinterrupt.h

src/util/task_runner.h

src/util/syserror.cpp

src/common/interfaces.cpp

src/common/types.h

src/util/threadinterrupt.h

src/kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h

src/node/psbt.h

src/policy/ephemeral_policy.h

src/util/trace.h

src/common/url.cpp

src/kernel/mempool_options.h

src/util/serfloat.cpp

src/kernel/notifications_interface.h

src/node/timeoffsets.cpp

src/node/warnings.cpp

src/util/hash_type.h

src/crypto/hex_base.cpp

src/node/eviction.h

src/util/tokenbucket.h

src/crypto/aes.h

src/common/pcp.h

src/util/feefrac.cpp

src/node/transaction.h

src/util/threadnames.cpp

src/common/signmessage.h

src/util/exec.cpp

src/util/signalinterrupt.cpp

src/attributes.h

src/chainparams.h

src/clientversion.cpp

src/common/signmessage.cpp

src/compat/assumptions.h

src/compat/byteswap.h

src/compat/cpuid.h

src/compat/endian.h

src/compat/stdin.cpp

src/compat/stdin.h

src/core_memusage.h

src/crypto/common.h

src/deploymentinfo.cpp

src/deploymentinfo.h

src/deploymentstatus.cpp

src/deploymentstatus.h

src/dummywallet.cpp

src/external_signer.h

src/indirectmap.h

src/init/basic.cpp

src/init/bitcoin-gui.cpp

src/init/bitcoin-node.cpp

src/init/bitcoin-qt.cpp

src/init/bitcoin-wallet.cpp

src/init/bitcoind.cpp

src/init/common.h

src/interfaces/init.h

src/interfaces/ipc.h

src/logging/categories.h

src/logging/timer.h

src/net_permissions.h

src/netmessagemaker.h

src/node/chainstatemanager_args.cpp

src/node/connection_types.h

src/node/context.h

src/node/interface_ui.h

src/node/mempool_args.cpp

src/node/mining_args.cpp

src/node/minisketchwrapper.cpp

src/node/txreconciliation.h

src/node/warnings.h

src/outputtype.cpp

src/outputtype.h

src/policy/fees/estimator_args.cpp

src/policy/fees/estimator_args.h

src/policy/fees/estimator_man.cpp

src/policy/fees/estimator_man.h

src/policy/packages.h

src/policy/rbf.h

src/policy/truc_policy.h

src/primitives/block.cpp

src/randomenv.h

src/script/keyorigin.h

src/script/parsing.cpp

src/script/parsing.h

src/script/script_error.h

src/script/sigcache.cpp

src/script/sigcache.h

src/script/solver.h

src/script/verify_flags.h

src/semaphore_grant.h

src/support/allocators/secure.h

src/support/allocators/zeroafterfree.h

src/uint256.cpp

src/util/bip32.cpp

src/util/fees.h

src/util/fs.cpp

src/util/result.h

src/util/string.cpp

src/util/tokenpipe.cpp

src/util/translation.h

src/util/vector.h

src/versionbits.h

src/versionbits_impl.h

src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.h

src/wallet/fees.h

src/wallet/load.h

src/wallet/receive.h

src/wallet/rpc/wallet.h

src/wallet/types.h

src/walletinitinterface.h

src/zmq/zmqabstractnotifier.cpp

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