Compile

SimpleSimConnector Compile Guide

This guide explains what is required to compile SimpleSimConnector, where to get the required files, and how to build it.

Repository path:

src/SimpleSimConnector-source

What SimpleSimConnector is

SimpleSimConnector is a C# Windows Forms application for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

It targets:

.NET Framework 4.8
x64

It uses Microsoft Flight Simulator's SimConnect SDK.

Because of that, it must be compiled on Windows.

You can compile it with:

Visual Studio Build Tools 2026
.NET Framework 4.8 SDK
.NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack
MSFS 2024 SDK

Required software

You need:

Windows 10 or Windows 11
Visual Studio Build Tools 2026
Visual Studio Code
.NET Framework 4.8 SDK
.NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 SDK
Git

Visual Studio Build Tools 2026 requirements

• Download Visual Studio Installer
• Below All Downloads, select Tools for Visual Studio, then get the latest version of Build Tools for Visual Studio.
• Once Visual Studio Installer is installed, click Modify > select Individual components > select .NET Framework 4.8 SDK and .NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack

Required SimConnect files

The project needs the managed SimConnect DLL:

Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll

Default location:

C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\managed\Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll

The compiled app also needs the native SimConnect DLL:

SimConnect.dll

Default location:

C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\SimConnect.dll

Both DLLs must be available for the connector to run correctly.

Where to get the MSFS 2024 SDK

The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 SDK is installed from inside Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Open MSFS 2024 and do this:

Developer Mode in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is activated via Options > General Options > Developers On
A menu bar will appear at the top of the screen in free flight.
Go to Help
Click SDK Installer
Install the SDK

After installing the SDK, confirm that these files exist:

C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\managed\Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll
C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\SimConnect.dll

Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/Anord-cc/simplesim.git
cd simplesim\src\SimpleSimConnector-source

Check the project file

Open:

SimpleSimConnector.csproj

Check the SimConnect reference.

It should point to:

<HintPath>C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\managed\Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll</HintPath>

If your SDK is installed somewhere else, update the path.

Example:

<HintPath>D:\SDKs\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\managed\Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll</HintPath>

Compile with MSBuild

Open a terminal where MSBuild is available.

For example:

Developer PowerShell for VS 2026

Then run:

cd simplesim\src\SimpleSimConnector-source
msbuild SimpleSimConnector.csproj /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64

The important part is:

Configuration=Release
Platform=x64

Build output

The compiled output should be created here:

src\SimpleSimConnector

The folder should contain:

SimpleSimConnector.exe

The final runtime folder also needs:

Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll
SimConnect.dll
connector.ini

Copy required files after build

If the SimConnect DLLs are missing from the output folder, copy them manually:

copy "C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\managed\Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll" "bin\x64\Release\"
copy "C:\MSFS 2024 SDK\SimConnect SDK\lib\SimConnect.dll" "bin\x64\Release\"

Adjust the path if needed.

Final folder layout

The final folder should look like this:

SimpleSimConnector/
├─ SimpleSimConnector.exe
├─ Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll
├─ SimConnect.dll
└─ connector.ini

Common compile issues

Missing .NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack

Error example:

The reference assemblies for .NETFramework,Version=v4.8 were not found

Fix:

Install .NET Framework 4.8 SDK
Install .NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack

Missing SimConnect reference

Error example:

Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect could not be found

Fix:

Install the MSFS 2024 SDK
Check the HintPath in SimpleSimConnector.csproj
Make sure Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll exists

Wrong platform

If the project is built as Any CPU, SimConnect may fail.

Build as x64 instead:

msbuild SimpleSimConnector.csproj /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64

SimConnect.dll missing at runtime

The app may compile but fail when launched.

Fix:

Put SimConnect.dll in the same folder as SimpleSimConnector.exe

Compile checklist

[ ] Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed
[ ] Visual Studio Build Tools 2026 installed
[ ] MSBuild Tools installed
[ ] .NET Framework 4.8 SDK installed
[ ] .NET Framework 4.8 Targeting Pack installed
[ ] Visual Studio Code installed
[ ] MSFS 2024 SDK installed
[ ] Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll exists
[ ] SimConnect.dll exists
[ ] SimpleSimConnector.csproj points to the correct SimConnect DLL
[ ] Build uses Release
[ ] Build uses x64
[ ] Final folder contains SimpleSimConnector.exe
[ ] Final folder contains Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll
[ ] Final folder contains SimConnect.dll
[ ] Final folder contains connector.ini

Fast compile command

git clone https://github.com/Anord-cc/simplesim.git
cd simplesim\src\SimpleSimConnector-source
msbuild SimpleSimConnector.csproj /p:Configuration=Release /p:Platform=x64

Required final files

SimpleSimConnector.exe
Microsoft.FlightSimulator.SimConnect.dll
SimConnect.dll
connector.ini