Just released: http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/ It contains full version of *optimizing* compiler and linker, identical with ones present in Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional. Included full implementation of standard C and C++ libraries, linked statically (sorry Boost.Thread) and few samples (plus support for .NET, as usual). Whole download is 32MB, Windows 2000/XP/2003 required to run. No IDE, no ATL, no MFC - just good C++ optimizing compiler run from command line and great implementation of C++ standard library, everything available for free under liberal license. B.