Thread: Manipulating the Win32 API

  1. #1
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    Manipulating the Win32 API

    Hello people.

    I am completely new to the prospect of programming GUIs and handling the Windows API in C++. I wish to be able to write the raw code, then compile it with a windows port of something like g++ or gcc, without using visual studio or another similar program. Can someone please lead me to a sensible resource or a tutorial.

    Thanks in advance,
    mintsmke

  2. #2
    and the Hat of Guessing tabstop's Avatar
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    There's lots of threads about compilers, some even mentioning the windows port of gcc. You can search for those threads if you like. (I personally use Code::Blocks with MinGW on my Win machine.)

  3. #3
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    If you're looking to compile under g++ eventually -- perhaps even on platforms other than Windows -- I'd really suggest using a cross-platform GUI toolkit in the first place. Qt and GTK+ are ones that come to mind.
    Gui Programming

    Seriously, cross-platform libraries make your life a lot easier, especially if you're planning on compiling elsewhere anyway. I should mention however that you can compile Windows API programs with Dev-C++'s (i.e. MinGW's) g++. Just get Dev-C++ or Code::Blocks and you should be all set.
    dwk

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  4. #4
    Weak. dra's Avatar
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    I'm just wondering, why are you against using VS for windows development? Arguably, it's the best tool out there for Windows development.

  5. #5
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dra View Post
    I'm just wondering, why are you against using VS for windows development? Arguably, it's the best tool out there for Windows development.
    My first job was developing an image viewing application which was available for Windows and various flavors of UNIX, but Windows was over 80% of the market we sold into.

    We developed the product on Linux workstations, using VMWare to compile and dev-test the Windows build. Actual QA testing was done on real Windows machines.

    In fact, the product was so portable that when a Windows user would report a bug, I was able to debug the problem using the Linux build probably 99% of the time.

    Yes, we were using the VC compiler, but not the IDE. Many times I wanted to try switching to a different compiler, but never got around to trying.
    Code:
    //try
    //{
    	if (a) do { f( b); } while(1);
    	else   do { f(!b); } while(1);
    //}

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