You need to install add-ins and Visual Studio Express (or Visual Studio) to be able to recompile add-ins, even if no custom procedures (custom add-ins) exist. For example, if you need to do a quick fix on system add-ins without installing entire GN package, you can do it if the add-ins are installed locally on the server.

To learn how to install Visual Studio Express, look at Install Visual Studio Express and other topics in the Visual Basic Express chapter.

To learn how to install add-ins, look at Installing add-ins source files.