Apache NiFi MiNiFi C++ has been built on Window Server 2016, 2019, and Windows 10 operating systems. Since the project is CMAKE focused we suggest building via Visual Studio 2017 or our ms_build.bat script. In order to build the MSI, please install the WiX Toolset
The project previously required OpenSSL to be installed. If you follow our build procedures, below, you will not need to install that dependency. Further, any MSI distributable requires that systems install the [Visual Studio 2010 redistributables](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26999&irgwc=1&OCID=AID681541_aff_7593_312327&tduid=(ir__2dz2dkkuookfr3a22jsv1zgwwn2xmb9vrhvzwmdq00)
In order to support Visual Studio you must install plugins capable of building CMAKE. We also advise installing WiX and Visual Studio Command Prompt via the marketplace. To do this please go to the Tools Menu, followed by Extensions and Updates. Once the popup displays you may install additional features from Online sources in the Online menui.
Once you have CMAKE support available please select the appropriate target. A file named CMakeSettings.json provides a few base configurations, x64-RelWithDebInfo, x64-Release, x64-RelWithDebInfo-WithJNI, and x64-Release-WithJNI. Though the project is written in C++, JNI functionality supports running Java processors stored in NiFi Archives. These can be run in a much smaller memory footprint and consumer fewer resources. If your systems do not support Java or you do not want a JDK installed, please select the non JNI targets.
CMAKE must generate its cache, under Cache in the CMake Menu. After that is complete go to ‘Build Only’ under the CMAKE menu. Due to limitations in Visual Studio's CMAKE support, it is advised that you build minifi.lib then minifiexe targets. Once you have built these targets, you may use the cpack command to build your MSI. If you are building with JNI functionality the MSI will be significantly larger ( about 160 MB ) since it contains the base NARs to run the standard set of Apache NiFi processors.
The preferred way of building the project is via the win_build_vs.bat script found in our root source folder. You must supply a single command, the build directory. Typically you create a directory with CMAKE and build in that referencing your CMAKE tree. Simply supply win_build_vs.bat an argument like ‘build’ as the name of your build directory and it will create this directory building the project within it. If WiX is installed cpack will create your MSI in the chosen build directory.