Category:Windows Development

Frameworks

Different approaches to Windows development:

• Microsoft .NET Framework
• Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC)
  • C++ - centric
  • Programs start with something like #include <afxwin.h>
  • Not included in Visual Studio Express, requires Standard or Professional
• WinAPI
  • C - centric
  • Programs start with something like #include <windows.h>
• XNA (games)

Libraries

Naming

libsomething.lib - static link library
something.lib    - import library for something.dll
something.dll    - dynamic link library

Important Libraries

msvcprt

Standard C++ Library (Multithreaded, dynamic link) - implements streams and STL.
Influenced by Configuration Properties:C/C++:Code Generation:Runtime Library

[nu]afxcw

MFC (static lib)

libcpmt

Standard C Runtime Library (Multithreaded) - C++ version - implements C standard stuff like printf

References

• MSDN:Visual C++ Libraries Reference
• C Run-Time Libraries
• MFC Library Naming Conventions
• A LNK2005 error occurs when the CRT library and MFC libraries are linked in the wrong order in Visual C++ - this is one of the single most annoying things about the Microsoft C/C++ compiler - if LNK2005 errors occur in your MFC program, check that you #include <afx.h> at the beginning of each file.

References

• MSDN:Win32 and COM Development - it's all in there ... somewhere.
• Wikibooks:Windows Programming
• freenode:#winapi