Book help

[Clyde]

What is the best book for learning windows API programming with C++, Petzold's book has been recommended, but that's for C right?

Also do you think it's worth skipping the API side entirely and launching straight into MFC?

Thanks in advance

[(TNT)]

Ok, first things first, you definatly shoudnt start with learning MFC, if you do want to do mfc then you should have a solid understanding of the API first. I have never learnt MFC and dont feel the need to.

Secondly Petzolds book is probably the best you can get for windows API programming, it is in C yes but it is easily adaptable to C++ and is almost the same. I would advise you to get petzolds book and learn most of the stuff in that, then i got this other book called Windows API Bible, or something similar to that it has a nearly complete listing of all win32 functions and demonstrates how to use them all. Its best to have a book that teaches you from the ground up and then possibly a reference book.


Hope that helps,
TNT

[adrianxw]

It doesn't matter if you are using C or C++, the interface to the API routines is the same, as are the concepts. Petzold book, (make sure you get the most up to date version, 5th edition I think), is the definitive book, although Herbert Schildts Windows NT4 from the Ground Up is also good, (don't worry about the NT4 reference in the title, it is a general API book).

TNT is right about the API. I would always advocate picking up an understanding of the API before starting with MFC or any other class library. Once you understand what is going on under the surface, a lot of the somewhat odd looking MFC/VCL/OWL/etc. code makes more sense. Also, the class libraries do a good job with simple "grey box" type applications, but when you start to push the envelope, the benefits of the libraries start to diminish and the API becomes the more natural tool. It is easy to go API -> class library, class library -> API is much harder.

[Clyde]

Thanks, Petzold's it is then