pip install MySQL-python returns unable to find vcvarsall.bat
django, mysql, python
Solution
As `pip` is used to install from source code, it requires compilation. There are two options to resolve that:
Install using `easy_install`
`easy_install` is quickly able to install using compiled exe file.
Install using `pip` using wheel package format
This is my favorite solution.
You have to get the wheel package format first. Many Python packages have them already and latest version of `pip` will by default install from it, older versions must be used with `--use-wheel` switch.
If wheel does not exist, you shall create one. Install `wheel` package first and use it to convert existing exe or egg file for given platform to wheel.
In case, there is no already compiled version for the package of your interest, there is no other solution than to compile it somewhere. Anyway, once you get it, you can turn into wheel format and install from it.
For further information about general `pip`, `easy_install` and wheel usage and setup see my other answer
Problem
I have been trying to `pip install MySQL-python` on Windows 7 but it returns `unable to find vcvarsall.bat`. I am using Python 3.4. How can I make this work in a simple way without going through the thorny path of installing Visual Studio 2008?