How do I get Spy++ with Visual Studio 2017?

62
votes

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://docs.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)
2
visual-studio-2017spy++
Good Spies are hard to find... - ThunderFrame

2 Answers

111
votes
  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
6
votes

It's part of the C++ profiling tools component.