I'm thinking of buying the book written by Petzold (Programming Windows 5th Edition).
I see that it was written a few years back. Is it still in date?
I'm thinking of buying the book written by Petzold (Programming Windows 5th Edition).
I see that it was written a few years back. Is it still in date?
Yes and No. Soon we will be using WIN64 API.....
I found it to be easy to understand and an excellent begining to programming with the WIN32 API in C. I think it is still worth the money/time.
"Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter."
Friedrich Nietzsche
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars......the rest I squandered."
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Soon we will be using Win64 API if we are writing for the Win64 platform. Considering the fact that a _lot_ of people are still running Windows 95 or 98 I don't think Win32 API will fall out of style any time soon.
Programming Windows 5th Edition is an essential book for understanding the concept and process of windows software development. That book will help you prepare and build a solid foundation for any future windows platforms.
Kuphryn
Last edited by kuphryn; 06-20-2005 at 12:26 PM.
In other words, it's still the Bible of WinAPI programming. So, if you're going to get one, might as well be Petzold's.
the current win32 API is backwards compatible at least back to windows 3.0.. I am sure (ok.. I am hoping) win64api will be backwards compatible with win32 (mainly because I am about 1/2 way through the 1,000+ page book)
- "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
- "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
- "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
- "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
- "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
- "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
- "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
- "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel
Yea it will be backwards compatible, plus just like the contructs from tchar.h allows you to use the same code for unicode/ansi, the SDK has been updated with things like int_ptr, long_ptr, that does the same thing for 32 vs 64 bit programming.
>>Considering the fact that a _lot_ of people are still running Windows 95 or 98
IIRC Win95 is a 16 bit OS (and a pain if you have to support it).
Most things will not change in the WIN64 API. Its just the IDE you will be using will expect a 64bit target and alloc memory accordingly. Where the differences are will break your apps.
As it is you have to write slightly different code for 2000/XP as opposed to ME/98.
"Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter."
Friedrich Nietzsche
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars......the rest I squandered."
George Best
"If you are going through hell....keep going."
Winston Churchill
This is true, I was just refuting the statement that Win32 programming would go out of style just because Win64 programming was on the move.
On the subject of books. I have thought about buying 'Windows Programming' as well, but found that it didn't quite was the book I was looking for. At the moment I'm working on a SDK-Treeview Project and would want some more information on how to use these controls. Apparently Petzold covers more basic elements such as painting in forms and such.
Does someone have a recommendation, what book I should buy? I would like to know more about the SDK-controls without using MFC.
Manuel
As far as windows programming goes, I always recommend Petzolds Programming windows to get you started and then move onto Jeffrey Richters Programming applications for microsoft windows which goes into the more advanced stuff.
Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
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