Should I start Windows programming?

[SteveCRM]

I've gotten comfortable with console programming lately. I have learned classes (finally ) Do you think I should go onto windows programming? If so can you give me some tutorials (other than winprog.org) or lead me in the right direction? Thanks guys!

[parksie]

The Platform SDK is definitely required to do any Windows programming

Here's a couple of examples based on the PSDK:

http://www.parksie.net/Raw.zip
http://www.parksie.net/RawDlg.zip

I tried to comment them nicely

If you read the PSDK carefully then it's not overly difficult, you just need to understand Windows' message model.

[Vlatko]

Also try this very good tutorial

http://www.winprog.org/tutorial

[parksie]

And Vlatko walks straight into that one...
He said other than winprog.org

Hehehehe.......not a problem, though

[SteveCRM]

hehehe...thanks guys! I'll take a look into that parksie!

[substring]

Let me add my 2 cents.... if you want to do Windows programming, you probably should also learn MFC. There are plenty of good MFC books out there.

Happy programming!

substring.

[sail3005]

So, classes are enough to go into windows programming? That sounds good, because thats about where i am at!

[Jop]

Well, I recommend you to not touch MFC if you want to use C++ what it's designed for... fast / small.

If you use MFC you might as well use VB

Ofcourse this is my opinion, and I agree it can be handy for RAD (is it called like that? Rapid Application Development), but I think it exploits C++, this is in contradiction with the whole idea of C++

[HarryW]

Yeah I agree with Jop here, keep off the MFC for a while, until you know about how Windows works at least. Windows messages, the message loop (or message pump as some call it), that kinda thing.

I see MFC as being somewhere between pure C++ with APIs and VB in terms of low-level/high-level programming. I think you have to acknowledge that MFC has a place somewhere below VB, since it is inherantly lower level by using C++ as the cement between the objects, so some more/different things are possible more easily, but it is really sacrificing a lot of the fundamental benefits of C++ - speed and size.

So, it's got a niche IMO, but it's not one I'm particularly interested in (not at the moment anyway), I'd rather stick to C++ with API.

[SteveCRM]

Thanks for all of this input! I don't intend on looking into MFC. It looks like a shortcut out of doing the dirty work. Its better to get it over with and learn the API windows stuff first So thanks Parksie I'll look over those files, and...thats it

(I'm not going to close this post in case someone has anything to add)

[Lethal]

Just wanted to throw my .02 cents in, I just learned my first C++ Program, "Hello World", wooohh..I'm at the beginning of my long journey...

[substring]

Lethal,

Well, you got to start somewhere. Just to let you know that it is going to be a bumpy road. Hang in there and the reward will be tremendous.

Happy programming!

substring.

[parksie]

And what can probably be one of the most useful pieces of advice...someone (my dad ) told me that when you use strings, it's a lot easier if you ALWAYS mentally treat them as arrays rather than strings -- it stops you getting totally confused

[Lethal]

Thanks for the advice fellas, If i have any questions I know who to turn to.

[invitro]

Then I'm kicking ur butt Lethal, I just figured out how to use variables and use the cout statement!
LOL!
jk

Hey, how about someone answer my color question now?

Thanks!

[samwise]

Programming Windows, The Definitive Guide to the Win32 API
by Charles Petzold


Samwise Galenorn
[email protected]

[SteveCRM]

Will-do...thanks

[Brandito]

just because I want to be different I say "Screw windows programming!"

What would be really sweet would be to develop some GNOME applications (and the like) for Linux!

l8r

[parksie]

Check out a good book on CORBA then