Thread: Windows Compiling?

  1. #1
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    Windows Compiling?

    How would you compile C or C++ code to run within Windows and not DOS? I mean, how does Windows handle things like stdin and stdout? Anyone know where I could get info on where to begin with Windows programming?

    Also, I was wondering what language windowed programs are written in, like notepad or calc for example.

  2. #2
    Sebastiani
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    Well, let's be realistic. Windows is a topic that coud easily span several bookshelves. To address it properly is beyond the scope of this thread However, I will try to answer your very broad question just a bit. First of all, you must search the internet with words like "Windows tutorial" and "Windows programming", etc. You will find several good starter code.
    Windows can be written in several languages, none of which are "notepad" or "calc" either! The easiest and most MS-favoured is of course Visual Basic. C and C++ are the next runners up. Even assembly language (imagine that!). So really, any language that has a coresponding compiler that will generate the EXE/DLL/PE/ETC formats used on Windows machines.
    Windows does not at all function like a console app (well, I guess it depends on how you write console apps too though!) Again, the subject is broad, and since your question was unspecific, I shall answer unspecifically.

  3. #3
    tammo21
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    Yeah I figured it would span several bookshelves. Sheesh. So complicated. I will figure it all out though.

    So where do you suggest I go once I learn C++?

  4. #4
    Guest Sebastiani's Avatar
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    Are you refering to websites? If so, msdn.microsoft.com, Sunlight's tutorial, etc. If you mean career-wise, well there are so many things you can do, even start your own software company. But to be sure, focus on completely mastering the language first.
    Code:
    #include <cmath>
    #include <complex>
    bool euler_flip(bool value)
    {
        return std::pow
        (
            std::complex<float>(std::exp(1.0)), 
            std::complex<float>(0, 1) 
            * std::complex<float>(std::atan(1.0)
            *(1 << (value + 2)))
        ).real() < 0;
    }

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    not career wise or a website, just what language is next to learn after I learn C++? There's gotta be a specific order that they all fall into so that you don't start learning one that requires you to know something of another.

  6. #6
    Banned Troll_King's Avatar
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    If you are using the Microsoft Operating System and have VC++6 than I do not recommend learning C++. The compiler is not able to handle Standard C++. If, however, you acquire VC++7 than you can learn Standard C++ and STL.

    Other than C++ you might be better off learning C#. Download the free SDK and go for it, or if you can't figure it out than get VS.net. The only problem is that it is very expensive. The .net language will teach you OOP. They are no match for Standard C++, however it is better than C++ on VC++6.

    If you use the Microsoft OS than you should follow the flow, or join the herd. It is not a research OS. The thing they are doing right now is VS.net. Learn about the .net framework. It isn't too terrible. It's okay, it's likely what you would want, knowing the mind of a beginner/intermediate. You will be writing windows apps in no time with C# and .net.

  7. #7
    Banned Troll_King's Avatar
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    I'll tell you what, if you download the free .net framework SDK on the microsoft website, I'll show you step by step, how to start writing Windows Forms apps using C#.

  8. #8
    &TH of undefined behavior Fordy's Avatar
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    Re: Windows Compiling?

    Originally posted by tammo21
    How would you compile C or C++ code to run within Windows and not DOS?
    If you have a recent compiler, the exe outputted will be a standard PE executable. This is the format that windows uses for executables & dlls. The first part of this file acts like a dos prog (there's a mini dos prog there), and if you run the prog in DOS it will display a message like "This can only be run in windows"...or whatever....and then quit....

    When you run the program in windows, the windows loader knows to ignore this code and runs the prog as a windows exe....

    Originally posted by tammo21
    Anyone know where I could get info on where to begin with Windows programming?
    Ken Fitlike (from this board) has a nice Win32 page - here (thogh why he calls it foosyerdoos is beyond me )

    Originally posted by tammo21
    Also, I was wondering what language windowed programs are written in, like notepad or calc for example.
    Often C/C++ or Visual Basic or Delphi or any language that can produce the proper code

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