I have spent a great deal of time learning the basics of C++. I am ready to move up a level, but where to go? I need to understand windows programming. Where can I go to learn the basics (initially) of windows programming and what to use and what not to use and to weed through all the stuff like COM, MFC, ATL, etc. Yes, I am a total noob. I admit. Thanks.

You should learn basic Win32 API. There''s a really great book on the topic called "Programming Windows", 5th edition by Charles Petzold. This book covers more than you can handle. I wouldn''t go for MFC yet unless you''re planning to write Windows applications.

A great primer is Winprog


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quote: Original post by MOVSW
wouldn''t go for MFC yet unless you''re planning to write Windows applications.

as opposed to non-windows applications?

quote: Original post by MOVSW
wouldn''t go for MFC yet unless you''re planning to write Windows applications.

quote: Original post by niyaw
as opposed to non-windows applications?

...you do realise that this is gamedev.net, right?

i forgot that windows games no longer qualify as windows applications.

did i really have to include sarcasm tags?

personally, i''ve found mfc to be useful when writing games/demos (before i switched to wtl, that is). anything that saves me from typing out window procedures is welcome.

quote: Original post by niyaw
did i really have to include sarcasm tags?

Until you''ve learned to use sarcasm properly, yes.

I didn''t phrase that very well. What I meant is that MFC is better to use for programming complex user interfaces and business applications.