Installing Programs Downloaded From Github

A lot of programs are available by downloading source code from github. However, I have not been able to figure out how to get said programs actually installed on my computer.

When I search the web for information about this, a lot of the search results address installing the actual github software. I am not interested in delving into that, and it shouldn't be necessary. Users can just download the source code of the github project and compile it. I realize that maybe I have to install a compiler.

Right now, the software I am interested in is Sumatra PDF.
Here is a link to the github page:
https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf
I realize that this can be downloaded as an executable, too. Aside from other agendas, I am interested in the general learning experience.

 

Doesn't work when I download 32 bit & run on Windows 8.1 embedded enterprise pro
windows says that it's not compatible with my system.

 

Right if you don't want the exe and want the experience the instructions are on the page:
To compile you need Visual Studio 2017. Free Community edition works. I tend to update to the latest release of Visual Studio. Lately C++ evolves quickly and Visual Studio constantly adds latest capabilities. If things don't compile, first make sure you're using the latest update of Visual Studio.

To get the code:

• git clone git@github.com:sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf.git

Open vs2017/SumatraPDF.sln when using Visual Studio 2017

 

As much as I have programmed in Visual Studio (which isn't much), I don't think I have ever created an executable there. I just run the debugger, with runs the program as part of its process.

As an aside, I really don't think VS is necessary. Visual Studio is for development. All we need to do is compile. Maybe just put those files in a directory, and run powershell on said directory with command "make."