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Background

I am looking for Spy++. I believe it should be included in Visual Studio 2017 since the latest Visual Studio help content references it: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/debugger/introducing-spy-increment.

Problem

I have just done a clean install of Visual Studio 2017, but Spy++ does not exist in the file system. I can't find it.

Question

So I guess I need to select certain "workflows" when installing Visual Studio to have Spy++ installed? Anyone know if this is correct? And if so, which workflow/feature do I need?

Setup

  • Windows 10
  • Visual Studio Professional 2017 15.1 (26403.3)
Sam
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2 Answers2

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  1. Open Visual Studio Installer
  2. Note down which edition of Visual Studio you have installed (eg Professional or Community)
  3. Click Modify
  4. Click Individual Components
  5. Locate the Development activities heading
  6. Check the Visual Studio C++ core features component: Location
  7. Click Modify

  8. Spy++ might now reside in the following paths, once you substitute the {edition} placeholder with your Visual Studio edition

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\{edition}\Common7\Tools\spyxx.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\{edition}\Common7\Tools\spyxx_amd64.exe
Sam
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    Since you seem to use the Professional edition, I would like to point out that the Community edition also has it. For me it is located under: `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\Common7\Tools` – robertspierre Oct 04 '17 at 08:58
  • @raffamaiden, thanks. I've incorporated that into the answer. – Sam Apr 23 '18 at 05:13
  • You can also find it under Tools > Spy ++ after adding it via this method. Whether you're on the community or professional edition. – CTS_AE Aug 12 '18 at 11:05
  • As of VS 2017 (Professional), the Visual Studio c++ core features component is located under "Visual Studio extension development" (instead of "Development Activities"). – OldDog Oct 09 '19 at 14:28
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    For VS 2019 (Professional), "Visual Studio C++ core features" was renamed to "C++ core features" and is located under the "Development activities" group. – somethingRandom Apr 09 '21 at 15:00
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    For the VS studio 2022 community installation, the spyxx is now at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\Tools and there is no longer a longer 'visual studio c++' to select it manually. It is installed by default. – Nasri Najib Nov 28 '22 at 06:43
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It's part of the C++ profiling tools component.

James
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    I think it's actually part of the C++ core features component, since that's the only C++ related feature I've installed. – Jimmy Apr 18 '17 at 21:55
  • @Jimmy I installed the C# workload and then modified the installation to add the C++ profiling tools which added Spy++ I did try a couple of other options first but that's the one which added it for me – James Apr 18 '17 at 22:03
  • @Jimmy, I just checked it out and it looks like you're right. C++ profiling tools depends on C++ core features, which explains why adding C++ profiling tools added Spy++. If you make that into an answer, I can accept it instead of this one. – Sam Apr 24 '17 at 11:08
  • I had `Visual Studio C++ core features` installed, but no spyxx. I added `C++ profiling tools`, and only that, and it appeared. Go figure, maybe those two packages, depending on other selections, may have a 3rd common dependency that installs it?! ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯ – Joanis Oct 24 '17 at 20:46
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    I've got both `Visual Studio C++ core features` and `C++ profiling tools` installed, and still don't have Spy++. – gigaplex Nov 28 '17 at 07:05