Microsoft has started offering a smaller download of just the compilers and tools needed to build C++. This can be very convenient for people wanting to just build openjdk without the hassle of installing a full Visual Studio.

We aren't quite ready to build all of OpenJDK with Visual Studio 2017, but we are working on it. The build system is already able to configure with it, but currently only for Community, Professional and Enterprise editions. I would like to also add the BuildTools edition to this list.

I've tried to configure with it locally and with a trivial change, I was able to build as far as with the full Visual Studio installation.