Thread: Windows programming links

Getting Started

This thread is intended to act as a quick reference for getting started with programming with the windows application programming interface(api, win32api, winapi).

Primary reference

• MSDN: Windows API Reference

Tutorials/how-tos/faqs

• theForger's Win32 API Tutorial
• Functionx win32
• Adrianxw's Win32 Tutorials
• Catch22
• John Findlay's C-Programming with PellesC and lcc-win32
• Programming Win32 with GNU C and C++

Platform Software Development Kit (PSDK)

This is not normally necessary if using Borland compilers, MinGW (dev-cpp, or, probably, code::blocks). It is essential for windows api programming with microsoft compilers.

• Windows® Server 2003 R2 Platform SDK Full Download

Note that although the psdk does contain mfc (Microsoft Foundation Classes) it is for 64bit platforms only and their use is restricted; check the licence for details.

Some Non-MFC C++ Class Libraries/Widgets(controls)

• wxWidgets
• gtkmm
• QT

Books

• Programming Windows, 5th edition, Charles Petzold (ISBN: 1-57231-995-X)
• Programming Applications for Microsoft Windows, 4th edition, Jeffrey Richter (ISBN: 1-57231-996-8)

(For mfc: Programming Windows with MFC, 2nd edition, Jeff Prosise(ISBN: 1-57231-695-0))

Compiler Specific:

• Using Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition with the Microsoft Platform SDK.