Check this out !

**DarkStar** · 08-09-2004

Some of you probably know how to do this, but i just discovered how to encapsulate the main function. Using Dev C++ 4.9.9.0 i got this bit of code to compile and link with 1 warning issued: resolving _WinMain@16 by linking to _WinMain

Code:

#include <iostream>

class main
{
public:
    main()
    {
        std::cout << "Hello !";
        exit(0);
    }    
};

main WinMain;

It works perfectly, you are just using a WinMain "function" object that does not require 16 bytes of data to be passed to it.

**The Brain** · 08-09-2004

looks like main( ) is playing the roll of a constructor in this situation.

some people don't like exit( ) but i think it's cool

**nvoigt** · 08-10-2004

My guess is that what you see is the constructor at work while the linker, unable to find his entry function, linked to some default function that is empty.

**Fordy** · 08-10-2004

This might throw up some bugs too. Compilers often add code before and after the entry point (this is why you need to call exit() - the compiler usually provides that and passes the return of main to it). It's possible that some initialisation code could be missed and this could possible cause some problems with various libraries you are using or even maybe lead to a crash. Who knows - it's not standard so anything's feasible

**DarkStar** · 08-10-2004

Yes, I see it more as some sort of a bug in ld.exe that it allows it to go thru with just a warning. You should not really be able to do this, it's sort of like the public static main in a Java app.

Here is a better way of writing this...

Code:

#include <iostream>

class Application
{
    char *s;
public:
    Application(): s("Hello !")
    {
        std::cout << s;
        std::getchar();
        std::exit(0);
    }
}
WinMain;

**DarkStar** · 08-10-2004

Originally Posted by nvoigt

My guess is that what you see is the constructor at work while the linker, unable to find his entry function, linked to some default function that is empty.

Your right nvoigt, that's what is really happening.

**DarkStar** · 08-19-2004

I have found a way to get this to link without a warning.

Code:

#include <iostream>

class winapp
{
public:
    winapp()
    {
        std::cout<<"winapp()\n";
        std::exit(0);
    }
}
WinMain;

g++ winapp.cpp -owinapp -enable-stdcall-fixup

Very unusual that you are able to do this.

**sean** · 08-20-2004

I'm actually surprized that exit() is more common in C than in C++ and that most people don't like it. With atexit() and all it seems like something that would've been more popular among the OOP bunch...

**LloydUzari** · 08-20-2004

I got this to work, its a pretty cool trick, but does it have any advantages? The only thing I can think of is being able to organize variables easier(in the class instead of in main)

**Fordy** · 08-20-2004

No it's non standard, non portable and could lead to unforseen problems

**DarkStar** · 08-20-2004

Fordy is right. It's just something interesting and unusual and nothing more than that.

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