Windows++: Writing Reusable Windows Code in C++ (Andrew Schulman Programming Series) [Paperback]

Paul DiLascia (Author)

Book Description

Series: Andrew Schulman Programming Series | Publication Date: July 1992

If writing over 70 lines of C code to display "Hello, World" seems like a cumbersome way to develop software, then Windows++ is the book for you. By taking an object-oriented approach to Windows programming, Paul DiLascia shows you how to reuse code and reduce development time. This book describes how to build a C++ class library-a set of reusable subroutines that drastically reduces the amount of code needed to write Windows applications. Rather than teach you how to use commercially available class libraries, Windows++ shows you how to build your own system, one that's tailored to suit your needs. Along the way, you'll learn the benefits and ease of object oriented programming in C++. Highlighted tips show how to adapt the various tricks and techniques to C. Here are some of the benefits you'll realize: *a simpler, easier, and more reliable approach to Windows programming than that described in the Microsoft Software Development Kit *reduced development time in building Windows applications through reusing code *code that is as portable as possible across platforms.Written for people familiar with C programming language, Windows++ shows how to overcome the many quirks and flaws that often puzzle the Windows programmer. 020160891XB04062001

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

020160891XB04062001

About the Author

Paul DiLascia is Chief Technical Officer of Refined Reports and a software development consultant. He has a degree in Mathematics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and resides in Cambridge, MA. 020160891XAB04062001

Product Details

• Paperback: 571 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 020160891X
• ISBN-13: 978-0201608915
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Old but good, January 26, 2000

By 

Steven Ketcham (Altoona, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows++: Writing Reusable Windows Code in C++ (Andrew Schulman Programming Series) (Paperback)

I have been looking for a book to cover OOP in combination with Windows for a long time. I wanted something that gave more than short examples meant to demonstate the power of a certain API call. My desire was to create my own mini-library to complement the tools I use now. Windows++ seems to do all that by actually taking the reader through the process of writing a class library for Windows 3.1. Not only that but there was a Win95 code update available on the authors website.

If you are looking for something similar this may or may not be the book for you. On the good side the author does a terrific job of explaining his thought process on how and why a class library can and should be built. Many of the problems (i.e. call backs, messaging) are still relevent today but at the same time Windows has changed alot. For instance chapter four is on memory managment which is absolutely Windows 3.1 specific (Win95 and above does not have these problems). When I emailed the author he didn't even know what chapter four was about and suggested I learn MFC. In chapter two he begins by describing a better POINT structure and tries to employ inlining to keep it small. It is one of the basic lessons of the book. But the constructor calls a member function before the member function is declared inline making it non-inline. He also declares a copy constructor for a base type. Later in the book he makes extensive use of circular referencing and forward referencing which really creates a tangled web of code. Difficult to update and debug.

This book will give a definate roadmap to writing or developing your own API specific software library but use extreme caution and prejudice in using the authors code. Most of the time the class library that comes with my compiler is fine but there are many time when having a lightweight class library would be invaluable. Given the choice of transfering a large Exe or a small one across the Web most people would choose a small one. There really is a need for this kind of book. If the author ever decided to write an update to this I would be thrilled

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books i ever read, September 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows++: Writing Reusable Windows Code in C++ (Andrew Schulman Programming Series) (Paperback)

Windows++ gave me the best a book can give, the courage to begin to write a library myself. It works! Hoever i hate to separate C++-code and dialog boxes code. So i hope that the author would show us how to avoid it and write easy dialog boxes in C++. P.S. I know that he has mentioned it in his book but i think its not enough

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for the truly serious windows c++ programmer, February 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows++: Writing Reusable Windows Code in C++ (Andrew Schulman Programming Series) (Paperback)

The book is excellent, as it covers in depth how a class library is constructed, along with the logic and windows knowledge components. Although built for the old win 3.x system, it gives a good basis for the construction of one's own personal c++ class gui library. As was stated in the book, the best way to understand the inner workings of a class library is to build your own. This book allows an experienced yet learning programmer to develop top notch system programming. I give the book a nine, because it "does not" include a digital copy of the programs in the book. I started to type the code in, but 100+ pages of it is really too much. The author has an order form in the back of the book, but no access via the webb and the book is five years old, so I guess the reader has to type, eh?