Windows C++ Development

Welcome to the comprehensive documentation for Windows C++ development. This section provides resources for building powerful, high-performance native applications for Windows using C++.

Getting Started

Learn the fundamentals of setting up your development environment, understanding the Windows API, and writing your first Windows application with C++.

Core Concepts

Dive deeper into the essential concepts and technologies that power Windows applications developed with C++.

Win32 API Essentials

The Win32 API is the foundation for native Windows programming. Explore key functions and structures.

Modern C++ on Windows

Leverage modern C++ features and libraries for more efficient and maintainable Windows code.

Component Object Model (COM)

Understand how COM enables interoperability and extensibility in Windows.

Advanced Topics

Explore advanced techniques and specialized areas for building sophisticated Windows applications.

API Reference

Access detailed reference documentation for all Windows APIs relevant to C++ development.

Browse the full Windows API Reference (C++)

Code Example: Creating a Simple Window

Here's a basic C++ code snippet demonstrating how to create a simple window using the Win32 API.


#include <windows.h>

LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam) {
    switch (message) {
        case WM_DESTROY:
            PostQuitMessage(0);
            break;
        default:
            return DefWindowProc(hWnd, message, wParam, lParam);
    }
    return 0;
}

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow) {
    WNDCLASSEX wc = { sizeof(WNDCLASSEX), CS_CLASSDC, WndProc, 0, 0,
                      GetModuleHandle(NULL), NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
                      L"MyWindowClass", NULL };
    RegisterClassEx(&wc);

    HWND hWnd = CreateWindowEx(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
                              L"MyWindowClass", L"Simple Window", WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW,
                              CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 400, 300, NULL, NULL,
                              hInstance, NULL);

    ShowWindow(hWnd, nCmdShow);
    UpdateWindow(hWnd);

    MSG msg;
    while (GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0)) {
        TranslateMessage(&msg);
        DispatchMessage(&msg);
    }

    return msg.wParam;
}

Tutorials and Samples

Explore practical tutorials and code samples to accelerate your learning and development.