Setting up a hybrid app environment on a Windows machine traditionally involves multiple steps, such as acquiring Java, NodeJS, and the Android SDK, followed by manually adding each to the system path, which can be time-consuming and challenging for beginners. To simplify this process, the Visual Studio team developed the Tools for Apache Cordova package for VS2013 and integrated it into VS2015, streamlining the preparation needed to build hybrid apps on Windows. This integration makes it easier for developers to use Visual Studio Tools for Apache Cordova in hybrid app development, enhancing efficiency and reducing setup complexity.