Windows Visual Studio install instructions

[ChrisDenton]

• [x] I have checked the latest main branch to see if this has already been fixed
• [x] I have searched existing issues and pull requests for duplicates

URL to the section(s) of the book with this problem: https://doc.rust-lang.org/nightly/book/ch01-01-installation.html#installing-rustup-on-windows

Description of the problem:

Installing the required Visual Studio components is fraught for new users, specifics can change over time. Recently rustup gained the ability to auto-install Visual Studio Community but it warns that it's only for individuals and open source developers and that others will still need to do a manual install. In the further future we may not need it at all if Rust moves to a llvm based toolchain by default.

The Book changes infrequently and a copy physically sitting on a shelf obviously isn't going to be updated with the latest instructions.

Suggested fix:

I was wondering if it might make sense to only provide broad-strokes install instructions and simply link to a rustup document on installation. This may require improving the rustup docs in this area (I've been thinking of doing like a screenshot walkthrough or something like that) and of course it would need some coordination with rustup devs to make sure this is ok.

[carols10cents]

I would love having one Rust/Rustup URL to point to rather than being at the whims of the Visual Studio page. I'm actually working on a new print copy of the book and it would be great to even just have the stable URL to put in there in the next few weeks (to be printed in early 2023 probably)... but I don't have time to work with the Rustup team do that... do you, by any chance?

[ChrisDenton]

For sure! My ulterior motive for posting this issue is that I find having a public issue helps motivate me to actually get things done. 😊

Which reminds me, I should also create a rustup issue link to this.

[carols10cents]

Awesome, thank you so much!!! This will be a huge help :)