`apm install --check` should be more informative

[bazzilic]

I encountered an Atom package that apparently requires some C++ code to be compiled. However, Atom refuses to install it with regards to missing native build tools (on Windows 10 x64), even though I have Visual Studio 2015 installed (including Visual C/C++ compilers). Python and git are also installed and available on PATH.

bazzilic@CSLRF21 $ apm -v
apm  1.15.3
npm  3.10.5
node 4.4.5 ia32
python 2.7.13
git 2.11.1.windows.1
visual studio 2015

Nevertheless, checks for native build tools fail:

bazzilic@CSLRF21 $ apm install --check
Checking for native build tools failed

I was trying to find how to fix this for quite some time now, but this error message gives zero information on what has gone wrong. Is there any way to investigate, what exactly fails? If not, could apm install --check be fixed to provide some more info?

[tommai78101]

Just to add to this issue, it also needs:

• Where to enter command lines to run apm at. It can be mistaken for running the Package Manager and entering the APM through there.
• Link for instructions on installing Python and VS needs to be updated, instead of requiring the user to click on a second link instead of going to this Github link