Thread: Where to Start : So many choices

  1. 05-09-2008 #1
    eetrash
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    Where to Start : So many choices

    All,

    I have recently been tasked with creating an windows XP/Visa application which does some pretty basic file system interaction, arranges and displays data in a particular manner. Nothing super crazy.

    Problem is, I've never crafted any kind of windows application before and I'm not sure where to start or what path I should first investigate.

    I've used Visual Studio in the past to create console apps, (VS 8 C++ express currently installed), and I know there's an option to create "applications" as well. Will this suite me? I've tried editing resources and the "express" edition does not have this feature. Do I really need it?

    Should I be using .NET for this? What about MinGW and eclipse? Any good books?

    I know I didn't give you guys much to work with, but I'm starting fresh and I want to learn.

    TIA!

    ee
  2. 05-09-2008 #2
    Mario F.
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    If you feel comfortable with C++, stick to it.

    Use a library like wxWidgets, or if you have the time and predisposition learn how to program with the Windows API. A third option is the MFC, but as far as I know only the professional (non free) editions of Visual Studio support it. Borland also offers their own framework, but again only if you pay for their suit.

    All in all, choose a 3rd party library if you don't want to be bothered with all the gritty details of windows programming, or study the W32 API if you do.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
  3. 05-09-2008 #3
    Elysia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mario F. View Post
    ...professional (non free) editions of Visual Studio support it...
    Standard+ I believe.
    But there are many free frameworks out there.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.
  4. 05-09-2008 #4
    eetrash
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mario F. View Post
    If you feel comfortable with C++, stick to it.

    Use a library like wxWidgets, or if you have the time and predisposition learn how to program with the Windows API.
    If I do go with something like wxWidgets, is that relatively crippling vs just using the standard Windows API?

    IE, how frequently do cases where wxWidgets just can't do what you need it to do, .. creep up?
  5. 05-09-2008 #5
    Elysia
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    It is in no way crippling vs Windows API.
    Windows API is a mess, and very difficult.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.
  6. 05-09-2008 #6
    eetrash
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    So wxWidgets is the best?

    Any good comparisons between that and alternatives?
  7. 05-09-2008 #7
    Elysia
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    I don't think it's best. I don't know if there's anything as best. Every framework has its ups and downs.
    Best they are (mostly) all better than pure Win32 API.
    As for comparisons, I don't know... If all else fails, you could try them all and see if they fit your style of coding.
    There is also GTK.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.
  8. 05-09-2008 #8
    laserlight
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    Besides WxWidgets, other common GUI frameworks include:
    FLTK
    FOX Toolkit
    GTK+ (gtkmm)
    Qt
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
  9. 05-09-2008 #9
    Mario F.
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    Overall wxWidgets is a popular choice for being easy to learn, powerful and an old and stable library. Qt is an excellent choice too... but asks for money if you want to start using some of its more advanced(?) features like database access or 3D. Of the others, I only once took a peek at the FOX Toolkit... and didn't like the fact it was developed in C and offered C++ bindings. I had enough of that with SQLite.

    I use wxWidgets for almost an year and I'm perfectly happy with it.

    EDIT: GTK, Sorry. Been a while. It was GTK that I saw and didn't like.
    Last edited by Mario F.; 05-09-2008 at 11:49 AM.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
  10. 05-09-2008 #10
    Alex31
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    Quote Originally Posted by eetrash View Post
    All,
    I have recently been tasked with creating an windows XP/Visa application which does some pretty basic file system interaction, arranges and displays data in a particular manner. Nothing super crazy.
    You don't need anything for a so simple task (libs are for noobs who can't program and they are of course not used in big firms)
    C or C++ and Win32 api.
    Dlg based app to simplify.
    That's all.
  11. 05-09-2008 #11
    Elysia
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alex31 View Post
    (libs are for noobs who can't program and they are of course not used in big firms)
    Are you serious?
    That has to be one of the stupidest things I've heard.
    Libraries exist to simplify things for the programmers. Because you don't want to spend 10 hours doing something that can be done in 1 hour.
    And I'll bet they're used extensively in corporation (oh, is that why I see so many programs using MFC?) because time is money.
    Win32 API is a horrible mess. That's the truth.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.
  12. 05-09-2008 #12
    Mario F.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alex31 View Post
    You don't need anything for a so simple task (libs are for noobs who can't program and they are of course not used in big firms)
    You are wrong. They are.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
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