If you search around for how to build Visual Studio projects from the command line you will find references to the DevEnv executable. When working with Visual C++ Express, however, that tool does not exist.
An equivalent tool, vcbuild, does exist and can be used.
Start by opening the Visual Studio command prompt (Program Files->Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition->Visual Studio Tools->Visual Studio 2008 Command Prompt).
Typing “vcbuild” gives you the command line help:
Microsoft (R) Visual C++ Project Builder - Command Line Version 9.00.30729
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Usage: vcbuild [options] [project|solution] [config|$ALL]
Options:
/clean (/c) Clean build outputs only
/error:<str> Prefix to add to error lines on output to stderr
/errfile:<file> Log all errors to the file specified
/htmllog:<file> Logs output to html file specified
(default: $(IntDir)\BuildLog.htm)
/implib Makes an import library for a DLL configuration (does not link)
/info:<str> Prefix to add to information lines on output to stdout
/link (/l) Performs a link without building sources
/logcommands Prints commands and response files to screen
/logfile:<file> Log all output and build information to the file specified
/override:<file>Override the project settings with the settings in the given
property sheet file
/M<number> Specifies the number of concurrent builds to run, if possible
/msbuild:<opt> Pass <opt> to msbuild.exe
/nocolor Do not output error and warning messages in color
/nohtmllog Do not write an html build log file
/noimplib Does not generate an import library.
NOTE: this option overrides /implib.
/nologo Suppress version and copyright message
/nondefmsbuild Do not use the copy of msbuild.exe located in the .NET
Frameworks installation
/platform:<str> Build only configurations for the given platform
/implibobjs:<s> Additional dependencies for the librarian
/rebuild (/r) Clean build outputs and perform a build
/forcelink Forces a link without building sources
/showenv Show environment in the html build log
/time Times the build from start to finish
/upgrade Upgrades the project file to the latest format supported
NOTE: the upgrade switch does not perform a build
NOTE: this option is ignored for solution files
/useenv (/u) Use environment variables for INCLUDE and LIB paths
/overrideRefVer When upgrading, assume .NET Framework Version 3.5 for any assem
ly references.
Requires /upgrade switch.
/wrnfile:<file> Log all warnings to the file specified
/warning:<str> Prefix to add to warning lines on output to stdout
@<file> Read options from the specified response file
Default Behavior:
===============================================================================
If no project is specified, and there is only a single .vcproj file in the
directory, that project will be built.
If no configuration is specified, and the VCBUILD_DEFAULT_CFG environment
variable is set, the configuration it specifies will be built. If it is not
set, then all configurations will be built.
The default action is to build the specified configurations without cleaning.
Options will also be read from the VCBUILD_DEFAULT_OPTIONS environment
variable.
===============================================================================
You can now use the tool to build your Visual Studio solution file:
vcbuild.exe /rebuild CNC.sln "Release|Win32"
