Install Toolchain Overview

The Install Toolchain tool helps you download and install the development tools required for SKSE plugin development. It handles downloading installers and running them with appropriate configurations, though some tools may require additional steps or user interaction.

Available Tools

Tool	Purpose	Required
VS Build Tools	C++ compiler (MSVC)	Yes
xmake	Build system	Yes
Git	Version control, template cloning	Yes
GitHub Desktop	Git GUI	No (optional)

How to Use

Ensure you have set your Development Root in Set Paths first
Go to Install Toolchain in the left panel
Click Install next to each tool you need
Wait for the installation to complete
Green status indicator confirms successful installation

Status Indicators

Each tool shows a colored status orb:

Color	Meaning
● Green	Tool is installed and detected
● Red	Tool is missing or not detected
● Gray	Tool not yet checked

Path Display: Each row shows the install path and the environment variable that will be set.

Visual Studio Build Tools

The C++ compiler required for building SKSE plugins.

What Gets Installed

MSVC C++ compiler and linker
Windows SDK
C++ build tools workload

Installation

Click Install next to VS Build Tools
ClibDT downloads the VS Build Tools installer
The installer runs with pre-configured workloads
Installation can take 10-30 minutes depending on connection speed

Large Download: VS Build Tools requires a 2-4 GB download. Ensure you have enough disk space and a stable internet connection.

Environment Variable

XSE_MSVCTOOLS_ROOT is set to the installation path.

xmake

A modern, fast build system used to compile SKSE plugins.

Why xmake?

Faster than CMake for iterative builds
Simpler configuration with Lua-based scripts
Built-in package management
Cross-platform support

Installation

Click Install next to xmake
ClibDT downloads the xmake installer
xmake is installed to %DEVROOT%\tools\xmake

Environment Variable

XSE_XMAKE_ROOT is set to the installation path.

Usage: After installation, you can use xmake commands in the terminal:

xmake f -m release    # Configure for release build
xmake                 # Build the project
xmake run             # Run the built executable

Git

Version control system required for cloning project templates and managing source code.

What Gets Installed

Git command-line tools
Git Bash (optional shell)
Git GUI (optional)

Installation

Click Install next to Git
ClibDT downloads the Git for Windows installer
Git is installed to the standard Program Files location

Environment Variable

XSE_GIT_ROOT is set to the installation path.

Required for: Creating new projects (clones templates from GitHub).

GitHub Desktop

Optional graphical interface for Git repositories.

Why Use It?

Visual diff viewer
Easy branch management
Simple commit and push workflow
GitHub integration

Installation

Click Install next to GitHub Desktop
ClibDT downloads the GitHub Desktop installer
GitHub Desktop is installed to LocalAppData

Environment Variable

XSE_GITHUB_DESKTOP_PATH is set to the installation path.

Optional: GitHub Desktop is not required for ClibDT to function. You can use Git from the command line or any other Git client.

Troubleshooting

Installation Fails

Check your internet connection
Ensure you have sufficient disk space
Try running ClibDT as administrator
Check the terminal output for error messages

Tool Not Detected After Install

Close and reopen ClibDT to refresh detection
Manually set the path in Set Paths
Verify the tool was installed correctly

VS Build Tools Issues

If the installer hangs, check Windows Update is not running
Ensure no other Visual Studio installers are running
Try downloading and running the installer manually from Microsoft

xmake Issues

If xmake commands fail, ensure XSE_XMAKE_ROOT is set
Add xmake to your system PATH if needed
Run xmake --version in terminal to verify installation