game loop

im trying to setup a game loop but without using an actual window:

Code:

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int APIENTRY WinMain(HINSTANCE hInst, HINSTANCE hPrevInst, LPSTR CmdLine, int CmdShow)
{
        HWND hInvisible = CreateWindow("Static", "", 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, hInst, 0);

        //Init with hInvisible as window

        while (bRunning)
        {
                //...game loop
        }

        //DeInit
}

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i was wondering, is there any disadvantages to the method i use? in all the directx examples ive seen, they set up a window.. but since my program doesnt need a window, i figured this way would be alot better?

when i run the program, it immediately goes to fullscreen instead of showing a window, and i handle all the keys (alt + f4 and esc.. etc) in my game loop...

Why make a call to CreateWindow() at all if you dont need a window?

Code:

---

int APIENTRY WinMain(HINSTANCE hInst, HINSTANCE hPrevInst, LPSTR CmdLine, int CmdShow)
{
    while (bRunning)
    {
        //...game loop
    }

    //DeInit
}

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the directx createdevice function needs a hwnd handle.. i tried giving it 0 (desktop) but that didnt work..

I'm not 100% but....

A possible problem is the messages sent to your window.

That is 'statics' don't respond (generate a msg) to some user actions. Other controls generate and respond in different ways to other msgs (ie you may need to catch EN_CHANGE msgs instead of WM_KEYDOWN/CHAR, if you used an edit).

Why not create a window 1x1 that is not visible?

the thing is, i dont need to catch any messages.. i just check for them using direct input and only allow the keypresses i want.. e.g. disable all ALT keys except for alt-tab and alt-f4...

and is there really a point in making a 1x1 window if im not going to need the messages?

I'm just giving suggestions...never tried this so is all conjecture.

>>i dont need to catch any messages..

Its more about the messages that the control generates and you don't handle or the way the OS passes on msgs to your app (ie bypassing msg que and posted directly).

>>and is there really a point in making a 1x1 window if im not going to need the messages?

I would consider it better style....but nothing concrete (as I said above)


Only one way to find out........

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X PaYnE X

the directx createdevice function needs a hwnd handle.. i tried giving it 0 (desktop) but that didnt work..

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0 != desktop The desktop handle is not zero which would imply that it's NULL.