Building for Windows on Linux

anonymous_user_f3fb80e6 · May 23, 2016, 12:57pm

We have a Continuous Integration server (TeamCity) running on Linux. Now I want to use that server to auto-build our UE4 projects as well.

Is there an easy way to compile a UE4 project for Windows on Linux?

anonymous_user_2b03d27c · May 23, 2016, 2:21pm

Hey -

It is possible to use a cross compile toolchain to compile for Linux using Windows. Here is documentation on the setup and process:

Cheers

anonymous_user_f3fb80e6 · May 23, 2016, 2:26pm

Thanks, but I was asking for the other way round – we have a Linux server, and I want to build for Windows on that Linux server, if there is any chance to do so.

anonymous_user_2b03d27c · May 23, 2016, 2:57pm

My apologies for misunderstanding. Unfortunately it is possible to only build for Linux when working on Linux. To build/package for Windows you would likely need to copy the project to a Windows machine.

anonymous_user_f3fb80e6 · May 23, 2016, 3:01pm

Too bad, I was hoping we could use our existing CI infrastructure … Anyways, thanks for your feedback.

anonymous_user_022b7a9e · March 12, 2017, 8:42pm

Can anyone explain why? What would be needed (theoretically) to cross-compile for windows on linux?

anonymous_user_2b03d27c · March 13, 2017, 6:18pm

Hey codywohlers-

You would need to find a Linux-to-Windows cross-compile toolchain. Additionally, an HLSL compiler would be necessary to compile the shaders as well.

anonymous_user_b0280162 · January 20, 2018, 9:41am

One year on, may I ask how epics official take on this matter is?
A Windows compiler for Linux exists for 20 years now :

An UE HLSL cross compiler is defined here:

I have just a little cross compiling experience. But generally you could compile for a toaster on Linux system. Everything is there. Will there ever be a a feature “compile for Windows” in the unreal editor or not?

Darkentik · November 7, 2018, 9:03pm

Any Updates on this?
I´m searching for a cross compiler to use my linux server for compiling WindowsNoEditor and automatically deploy the project.
I hope there will be a solution!
Thanks.

Lucas_Stern · August 3, 2020, 9:28am

Im too am curios if this is possible or not

Hunanbean · June 12, 2021, 12:19am

I too am hoping for an official chain/integration path.

Thank you.

Zananok · February 25, 2022, 4:28pm

I too am strongly hoping for this possibility.

Best regards,
Zananok

flooferlands · September 12, 2022, 7:32am

Bump?
I’m trying to permanently switch to Linux for desktop usage and i keep having to switch back to Windows after a few weeks because of Unreal Engine
I’ve found the engine to actually be very stable and reliable on Linux so far (minus the fact the UI is a little slow) but the fact we can’t export our games to Windows is absolutely catastrophic, seeing Windows is over 90% of the market.

dwhite_anyar · February 1, 2023, 7:15pm

Bumping once again. Was hoping to run Unreal Engine 5 in a Linux container and be able to package for Windows considering it’s much easier to run the engine in a Linux container than a Windows container, but it’s looking like the only option would be to use a Windows container (which luckily does have support but does not have NVIDIA container toolkit).

maurorisonho · March 22, 2023, 7:59pm

It would be interesting, we created a ticket on the Unreal Engine github, requesting the creation of this feature (https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEngine). I think the binaries could be created using Vulkan as an option to DirectX, making it cross-platform.

B4rr3l · July 11, 2023, 8:07pm

same problem here, using linux cause its much better to work but can´t build for windows.

jb54s8iw451 · September 24, 2023, 1:51pm

i would switch to linux in a heartbeat if this were possible

TreeTimesFast · January 24, 2024, 7:50pm

Bump - having this would really help