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This post is auto-generated from RSS feed The Rust Programming Language Forum - Latest topics. Source: Cannot get started with rust and vscode

Followed the docs to get started, on windows 11.

rustup did download VS community installer and install build tools as part of its rust install process.

rustc --version works

rustc --version
rustc 1.93.1 (01f6ddf75 2026-02-11)

from within the same terminal rustc main.rs fails:

rustc main.rs
error: linker `link.exe` not found
  |
  = note: program not found

note: the msvc targets depend on the msvc linker but `link.exe` was not found

note: please ensure that Visual Studio 2017 or later, or Build Tools for Visual Studio were installed with the Visual C++ option.

note: VS Code is a different product, and is not sufficient.

error: aborting due to 1 previous error

I see the build tools are installed though.

If I need something else - it hasn't been explained from here: Installation - The Rust Programming Language

I am not the first user to hit this issue but the only "answer" I have seen is to switch to the gnu toolchain - if thats necessary then it should perhaps be highlighted or the windows install experience for rust, changed?

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