title: Can I compile DLLs without Visual Studio?
body: <p>My intention is to take <a href="https://github.com/ethz-asl/libpointmatcher" rel="nofollow">a C++ library</a>, wrap it for C# with <a href="http://www.swig.org" rel="nofollow">SWIG</a> (<a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/swig/" rel="nofollow">alt. link</a>), and compile both C++ and C# components as DLLs for Unity 5. (The C# DLL provides Unity with an interface to the C++ DLL.)</p>
  
  <p>To the best of my knowledge, compiling C++ and C# DLLs always requires Visual Studio (or tools like <code>msbuild</code> that come with VS). However, I am currently struggling to get VS installed, which has led me to question that assumption.</p>
  
  <p>Are there any other options for compiling Unity-ready DLLs on Windows?</p>
  
  <p>(Even if I get VS installed, I'm still curious to know.)</p>