Hobbiest either used open source or some freeware compilers. The reason I mentioned Java and C# is that is easy to use for simple tools and you can support all

Hobbiest either used open source or some freeware compilers. The reason I mentioned Java and C# is that is easy to use for simple tools and you can support all OS, around 15 years ago I bought a book about games and c++ it had a CD with a free/gratis version of a c++ compiler (probably from Microsoft) I made some small games and shared them with my friends (I did not had to pay Microsoft a tax or ask approval)