Build a Qt project using MSBuild

[d_stranz]

I though that msbuild contains all the necessary tools to create the executables.

No, unfortunately, MSBuild is like QtCreator, make, cmake, ant, or any other build system - it is a controller that helps manage all of the project dependencies and build the parts using the right tools in the right order. It doesn't come with the toolchain - the compilers, linkers, etc. That's what makes them so flexible - you can supply your own. Some of the MSBuild examples actually use building a Java app as the project, nothing involving C++ at all.

I don't think you have much choice except to buy the most basic version of Visual Studio. I don't know if Microsoft sells just the tools without the IDE.