Opinions: MFC, or C & Win32 API

[Soneji]

Hello yet again,

I know this is long, and I apologize... but hang in there! :)

I've been learning C++, and I can't get enough. I've been finding out more, and more about it online, ever since I started learning.

Now I have an opinion related question... I know to get the "cute" windows in win-doze, ( meaning: not running in a command line ) you need to use the MFC, or Win32 API, but what I want to know is, in your opinion, which is worth learning first?

I've heard the MFC is not as good as the API, but do you need to bone up on C in order to use the API, or can it be used with C++. ( I know C++ is a superset of C, and has everything C has... But still... )

I know some of you will say: Learn C#, and .NET ( oh, new question coming...), and I will down the road, but I'm concentrating on my C++ right now.

What about .NET with C++? ( is it even possible? )

I would like to learn them all eventually, I just wonder which to start first.

I would appreciate any recommendations on books, references, or tutorials too.

Oh, and a quickie question: Last time I looked into Linux, they had some sweet windows-esque... uhhh... windows. What do they have going on over in their world. ( meaning, what's their "version" of MFC/API/.NET )

Thanks again,

-Soneji

[drhowarddrfine]

I'm a guy that's been in and out of all this over the years so I've forgotten a lot but here is what I remember.

1) Yes, you can use C++ with the Windows API
2) Bjourne Soustrup, the C++ creator, would have issues with you saying C++ is a 'superset' of C but we know what you mean.
3) I know little about MFC other than what others have told me and those wouldn't touch MFC with a 10-foot pole. I like getting close to the metal but MFC looks like too much of a wrapper around what I want to control.
4) Yes, you can use C++ with .NET
5) Linux/Unix/BSD have X-Windows. I don't know what an equivalent of MFC would be but the 'API' consists of system calls and library calls.

Remember that .NET is a relatively new creation and Unix has been around much, much longer. You can run .NET stuff using 'mono' but why would you want to? I don't see a need there.

For X, there are various toolkits like GTK and KDE.

[Banfa]

Now I have an opinion related question... I know to get the "cute" windows in win-doze, ( meaning: not running in a command line ) you need to use the MFC, or Win32 API, but what I want to know is, in your opinion, which is worth learning first?

I would learn the WIN32 API first (although I doubt Microsoft would say that (of course they would say forget the API learn .NET)). The reason I say this is that MFC is just a set of wrapper classes that wrap calls to the API using some (well quite a few) classes as well as adding rather a lot of bloat to the equation. If you know the API you will know what the MFC is doing if you look into its internals and you will have the choice of using WIN32 API or MFC when you get round to learning MFC as well.

[Soneji]

Ahhh!!! I see!

I had thought about learning the API, but I didn't want to learn it, then find out you needed to master C to work with it.

I really appreciate the answers! You have confirmed what I heard about the MFC, and now I know that learning the API is a good step.

As for Linux, I have had 2 different versions installed before ( Mandrake first, Redhat second ) and I want to reinstall at least one of them, ( probably Redhat ).
I really like Linux, I just didn't have the time to learn it before ( I have plenty of time now though... Motorcycle meets Truck = semi-disabled ).

I knew of the GTK+, however I didn't realize it was a graphical interface toolkit.

Wow, I learned a lot! I really appreciate the help! I'm a "late bloomer" in the programming world, and I'm trying to maximize my learning, while minimizing wasted time ( I've wasted enough... Wanted to program since I was 10-11, that's been awhile back ).

Do you know of any good Win32 API books? ( I've got the FoosYerDoos website bookmarked :) )

Again, Thanks for the help!

Lates,

-Soneji