Where to start windows pogramming?

I have some knowledge of C and I want to start making programs with GUI %26amp; other stuff like that. Where can I find a good place to start?


Thanks a lot.

Where to start windows pogramming?
Windows programs can work through one of several SDKs. There is the base Win32 API. This is about as low level as it gets. You access the API through C or C++. Given that there is no abstraction, simple things will take a lot of code to right. However, this is about as much “power” you get in writing windows code.





C++ programmers have had MFC, ATL, and other abstraction layers on top of Win32 API. If you also know C++, they happen to be an option as well. However, Microsoft in the past few years has been moving away from MFC and all.





They favor the .NET framework for GUIs and Windows programming. Your best option may be to pick up a new language: C#, and learn how to use it and .NET .





If you're sticking with C and C++, you need to learn the Windows API. Check the wikipedia page on Win32 API for external links. Google will also get your more tutorials.





I hope you're a solid C programmer. Windows programming is an application, not a new language. If you don't understand C properly, you'll suffer when trying to program GUIs and so on.





Do not dump your question on a random forum like Dlegend suggests. Experts on forums do not hang around to act as your personal encyclopedia, and if you behave in such a manner, you will get quite an unexpected verbal thrashing. You need to make a genuine effort to learn and solve your problems before asking for help.





Google and MSDN are your friends.
Reply:I started with the Watcom C/C++ compiler and sample codes. This is now freeware:





http://www.softpedia.com/get/Programming...





My C/C++ code is available (free) from:





http://freespace.virgin.net/roy.longbott...
Reply:Skip Visual C++ and start learning Visual C#. Just trust me on this. You'll be able to apply your knowledge very quickly, and you can download Studio Express and the .Net Framework. On the other side of the fence is Java.
Reply:That would be using Visual Basic Express 2005. That's a good start and i'm in the learning phase too.
Reply:I started using Dev C++ (compiler) which has a template for starting a Windows GUI.





The next best thing to do is to find a forums (I go to http://forums.programming-designs.com ) and ask questions on various win functions you'd like to learn.





Every object, for instance a button, is considered a window, but inherits a specific class and is handled differently.





If you're not interested in working with winapi directly you can use a compiler like Visual C++ which has wrappers for handling GUI (in which I would recommend getting a book from Amazon).
Reply:I think Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition is a good starting point, its very easy and it's free.
Reply:Me suggest C# too. The Microsoft's Modern language. Trust me, it's the best programming language ever! (I have more than 10 years of programming experience, and has written codes in QBASIC, Pascal, C++, Assembly, Visual C++, Visual Basic, Java, and ...!)





Try MSDN to start, visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/