I am a embedded electronics hobbyist that is needing to learn C to use the new 32 bit chips from microchip more efficiently. I know embedded assembly, embedded basic, VB ,HTML and have pasted simple embedded C programs together. Most microchip programs are written in C now and I might as well learn it and windows C while I'm at it. I see that code:blocks is the only one that will do windows and PIC chip programming. I like this because I will only have to learn 1 ide for both and less clutter. My question is I'm a little confused as to what people have been recommending to go with it as compilers and libraries? A lot are saying I can't make windows programs without adding GTK, MINGW, and wxWidget. I'm figuring MINGW is a backend compiler. I think wxWidgets is a library but I can't figure out what GTK is? Is it a compiler or libraries? And why do I need this or the others?
I think, correct me if I'm wrong here, that I can make windows programs with just code:blocks but I would have to build my own libraries or code for windows apps?
If anyone has a better option for someone that is coding PIC chips and making windows programs with the same ide let me know.
Thanks.