I need to create a simple Win32 application with UI. I've done some Win32 programming before, but haven't really created a Win32 non-console application.
There seem to be many options/combinations of option, and I was having hard time choosing which one to use.
Couple of technologies I've come across while I was searching are
MFC
GDI(++)
ATL support for creating UI
Native Win32 APIs for controlling UI (window, dialog, etc...)
From my understanding so far, it is possible to create a windows application (with UI) only with GDI++ and native win32 support, but it is rather a time-consuming task. So develoeprs use either MFC or ATL to simplify the implementation. It also seems that MFC is a dying technology, and people learn it only to be able to read legacy codes. So exactly when should I choose MFC over ATL and vice versa?
One of the primary restraints I have with my program is, it has to be written in native code (can't use C# or Java for deployment reasons). However, the program itself would be relatively simple, you can think of it as a launching pad that launches preinstalled programs by clicking on some buttons. Thanks!
