The latest Petzold is 1999. However, I keep hearing that it is the Bible of Windows programmint. So, is Petzold obsolete or not?
The latest Petzold is 1999. However, I keep hearing that it is the Bible of Windows programmint. So, is Petzold obsolete or not?
Books by Charles Petzold
It might be the best, if you can still be bothered to grapple with the windows API at the C level.
But most of the world has since moved on in the decade++ that has passed.
If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
Petzold's book is still the best when it comes to programming with the Win32 API. It's true that most programmers these days are moving towards .NET, so you first need to decide what it is you really want to learn.
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It is the best, but IMPOSSIBLE to find. I think it's out of print. I was very lucky and found a copy in the library of a campus on the other side of the state, and got it delivered to me. I think I remember seeing some second-hand copies on Amazon. Lucky I didn't buy one before I discovered this wonderful copy.
My lecturer told us we are learning console C++ and win32 API because it will provide us with a solid foundation when it comes to learning more modern things. Otherwise you'll just learn methods and how to do stuff but not actually be able to understand it, so when you need to do something you haven't learned the steps for explicitly, you'll be stuck.
I think if you want to be a serious, professional programmer, you should learn win32 before going onto modern things. If you want to just create little things here and there and not be serious, then you can do the modern stuff first.
Last edited by Quantumcat; 10-03-2010 at 12:15 AM.
> you should learn win32 before going onto modern things
Why?
There are several other vast worlds of programming which have NOTHING at all to do with Microsoft. If MS GUI programming isnīt your thing (maybe itīs Linux, or embedded systems), then learning Win32 is a pointless distraction in the wrong direction.
If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
I meant more modern Windows things like .NET.
The Windows API helped me learn a vast amount about programming in general. It is good to know for anyone, since it is so rigorous compared to .NET, Qt, etc...Originally Posted by Salem
@OP:
I'd highly suggest Programming Windows Fifth Edition by Charles Petzold, it is worth every penny, that man is a genius.
Odd, Iīve been programming professionally for a real long time, and Iīve never had to bother with the bloat.
If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.
Salem, Let me translate for you: when he said "you should learn win32 before going onto modern things" what he probably meant was "...I cant be bothered learning the newer technologies like .Net or any of the cross-platform tool-kits so in my lectures - welcome to years ago.."
Oh, and if you are going to go down the Win32 road, Petzold is about the best, but also look out Herb Schildt's* book - that is a good companion
*Yes I know he is considered the devil in the programming book world, but his windows book was ok, was easy to pick up and should be pretty damn cheap if you find it second hand
