title: How to install python on Windows without an MSI installer?
body: <p>Take python 3.6.x for example. The last windows installer for python 3.6.x is 3.6.8: no more installers for 3.6x version that comes later (see <a href="https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/" rel="noreferrer">https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/</a>)
  3.6.8 happens to be the last maintenance release of python3.6, I don't know if it is somehow related to not propose a package installer for windows but only sources.</p>
  <p>Practical problem here: How should I proceed to install 3.6.12 on Windows?</p>
  <p><em>Please don’t simply advice « Install 3.7 or 3.8, it is more recent ». I <strong>know</strong> that 3.6 is not the latest, but sometimes you have to stick with a particular version for support or compatibility.</em></p>
  <p>Since I have to use 3.6.x, I am looking for the latest version available in this branch (currently 3.6.12) to still benefit from security patches.</p>
  <p>This gives two path:</p>
  <ol>
  <li>install 3.6.8 with MSI installer then upgrade to 3.6.12 from source,</li>
  <li>install 3.6.12 from source.</li>
  </ol>
  <p>What are the steps involved for option 1 or 2?</p>