Re: C compiler for Windows

From: Dave (recneps.w.divad_at_elcaro.moc)
Date: 10/14/03 

Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 14:43:18 +0100

Jean Biver wrote:

> I am looking for a C compiler to write a Windows application with a
> point and click interface. Visual C++ seems to be a standard, as well
> as C++ Builder. I would like to stay with straight C, and possibly use
> the MFC API.
>
> On the Mac there is Metrowerks CodeWarrior that allows you to program
> cross-platform. I ignore how far the Windows API is implemented.

There's Visual C++ (Visual Studio 6, .Net, etc), if you want to pay
Microsoft lots of cash (or have access through the company).

Outside this I use MinGW which seems ok.

MFC is a C++ API so you won't be able to stick with straight C
(obQuestion: what's "bent C"?) and use MFC. I would recommend learning
to use the Windows API directly, as this will help your understanding of
MFC. You can hit the API with either C or C++ and in fact it's an
interesting exercise to write your own windowing class library. The
Windows API has some interesting quirks.

Read Petzold.

No, really, read Petzold's Programming Windows. It really is the
ultimate foundation for programming, er, Windows. Unfortunately it
costs money. Buy it and read it anyway. Don't resist. If you want to
program Windows, you need to read Petzold. Even if you want to use
MinGW, Borland, Zortech or even a hex editor, you need Petzold.

Um, sorry, I went on a bit. Just read it, ok?

If you know CodeWarrior and you are prepared to buy MSVC, consider
buying CodeWarrior instead. However if your interest in reading Pe- er,
I mean programming Windows is likely to go further than just a hobby,
you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice not to learn MFC (and the
Windows API). MFC is so industry standard it's depressing. Out of 100
programming jobs, one, maybe two, won't require MFC, especially since
Borland became relegates to the sidelines. (Unfortunately when they
were a major player I learnt Borland, not MFC, and although their OWL
(ObjectWindows Library) is about 1e1000000000 times better than MFC
somehow they didn't retain their market share and now MFC/VC is the only
viable skillset for professional programmers (who want lots of career
choice)).

Dave.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: CreatePatternBrush(), brush in multiline editbox + scroll?
    ... MORE important in raw Win32 API programming than it is in MFC. ... Note that raw API programming is a really difficult way to write code. ...
    (microsoft.public.win32.programmer.gdi)
  • Re: Iczelions tutorials revisited.
    ... >> Test Departement Tutorials and Iczelion Tutorials, ... > of a Windows program isn't very complicated. ... the "teach yourself Window Assembler programming ... > Learning the API seems like the "hard part" to me. ...
    (alt.lang.asm)
  • Re: Programmer knowledge
    ... >> The C library doesn't have windows or controls at all. ... It's not going to stop working unless the API ... are not part of MFC, nor necessary in any way to its use. ... for rare cases, it is only for writing libraries), or that dockable ...
    (comp.programming)
  • Re: the ms monopoly is over. gonna kick some ms butt. are you with me?
    ... IP-DOS is only a plain vanilla Windows service. ... his app for their api rather than for win32 and its derivatives (e.g. ... visions for the future of software. ... with a programming abstraction, with an api, that i liked. ...
    (microsoft.public.win32.programmer.kernel)
  • Re: Programmer knowledge
    ... >>The C library doesn't have windows or controls at all. ... It's not going to stop working unless the API ... MFC generated code is human readable. ... > because of the lack of pre-compiled header information. ...
    (comp.programming)
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