[SmellyMoo]

I have experience with C++, made 2 homebrew games for GBA.

But my best language is VB6, which sucks in many many ways, so I have finally desided to bite the bullet and go over to c++ for everything...

just want to know which compiler would be best to make windows (some linux maybe) GUI apps? I got told borland, but that seems shaky now, so Ms visual studio 2008?

just want your opinions

[Core]

If you use Visual C++ 2008 (that is a component of Visual Studio 2008), you can either create Windows Forms applications or MFC applications. The applications of the types above have a GUI. If you use MFC, you will mostly design the GUI by code. If your application is a WinForms application, you will have access to a GUI designer.

This post has been edited by Core: 27 January 2009 - 06:17 PM

[Hyper]

MFC is a wrapper to the Win32 API.

[Core]

Quote

MFC is a wrapper to the Win32 API.

Therefore, it gives you access to specific classes that will allow you to build windows (application GUI) and application controls.

[Hyper]

People will argue that it is better to learn both and in a specific order.
I personally believe you should learn Win32 then learn MFC.

[SmellyMoo]

right, I really ain't understanding any of this. sorry

I have no reference point. what is MFC and win32?

I kinda expect an IDE and not have to make a GUI in code, seems silly to do it in code! its a GUI, you should see it as you design it

sorry, never done visual c++ only standard, so this is all new.

[MorphiusFaydal]

Win32 is the common name for the Windows API (Application Programming Interface) for Microsoft Windows. MFC is a library that wraps parts of the Win32 API in C++ classes.

If you want to use Windows Forms to design your GUI, you're not going to be using ANSI (aka "standard") C++. You're going to be using Managed C++, which is actually quite different from ANSI C++.

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) GUI editors are thinner on the ground than you might think. Off the top of my head... I can only think of about 5, and they all work with different toolkits for GUI creation.

[SmellyMoo]

thanks 'MorphiusFaydal'

ok, so I would like to use ANSI C++ as I assume that's the 1 I am using.

which way would you recommend? sounds like I want a WYSIWYG gui editor that just creates the interface, then code in normal C++.

so download a toolkit, which?

also is Microsoft studio managed c++?

we are getting there slowly, need to learn a lot to make windows progams from my c++ knowledge!

[MorphiusFaydal]

Visual Studio will properly compile both Managed-C++ and ANSI C++.

As to libraries to use.... wxWidgets has a couple of form designers.... I believe Qt and Gtk+ both have designers that will work on Windows.

TBQH though, I'd start with learning the underlying code... Learn raw Windows API window creation and do it that way. Then, when the WYSIWIG editor does something wrong, you can fix it.

[Pwn]

Yeah, so got any recommendations for a book and/or website that covers GUI development in C/C++? I've done GUI in VB, but C++ GUI doesn't seem to be all that straightforward to me.

[Plus]

if i would want to build GUI with C++ i would use Visual Studio 2008 with Visual Designer .. for Win32 GUI programs,

but for other GUI .. you need to make the program draw the GUI on the screen, instead of the Standard GUI for Win32 programs ...

still I'm not sure about that point ...

Hopefully someone would PM telling me
if it's like what i said, or I'm wrong ...

[r.stiltskin]

I just started playing around with wxWidgets so I can't tell you much about it but have a look at this:
http://www.wxwidgets...s/tutorials.htm

Also, for a good, free, open-source, cross-platform IDE that is based on wxWidgets check out Code::Blocks.

There's also this tutorial on creating gui apps in Code::Blocks using its wxSmith plugin:
http://wiki.codebloc...Smith_tutorials

This post has been edited by r.stiltskin: 31 January 2009 - 07:12 AM