6 replies to this topic

[Ninjaboi]

I'll make this to the point. I'm wanting documentation so that I may program for the Windows platform. I'm getting tired of writing and memorizing everything, when I could just use a reference for whole thing. I've been told that most people don't try to memorize the whole thing, just the stuff they use the most, and the rest they simply look at the documentation for everything. I'm wanting to program in 32 bit, and later in 64 bit when our OS's finally require it as a minimum ( right now it's 32-64, not 64-128 ). So Win32 is what I'm going for.

So, my question is, does anyone know of a great reference for Windows programming? I want a nice, simple reference. I don't need to be taught, so no tutorials. I just want to not have to remember EVERY function, EVERY data type, and EVERY parameter. It's a waste of my time.

I was looking around and found that Microsoft provided the Windows SDK, which comes with great documentation ( as I've read ). If this is the best I'll get, and there is no other resource with most if not all the things I'll need, can someone please link me to where I may acquire it for my specifications? I've tried two or three times, and it's annoying me how hard it is to find the right download. I'd prefer not using an ISO version, but if I'm limited to that it's fine.

Here's what I have:

Windows SDK
Windows XP Service Pack 3
Visual Studio 2008 ( Not Express )

I've read that the SDK will integrate the documentation with Visual Studio's index, so that's why I provided that information. Thanks in advance, as this has been a painful process that I know there is an easier way to do.

Here are you happy faces for reading this thread:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Alexander]

Their MSDN library has comprehensive information and references, on the left there are tabs with a wide variety of .NET/Windows related programming information:
Windows Development (Windows)

Each section should have a reference, a use reference and description of the service (take for example error reporting), it is often what people look up when local documentation is not available.

[Ninjaboi]

Thanks, that will come in handy. Also, anyone know of the link I require for the Windows SDK?

[brownhead]

Not sure what you mean by Windows SDK.. Just include windows.h if you want access to the Win32 API. But go ahead and check out the below link if you'd like.

windows sdk - Google Search

[Ninjaboi]

We'll my problem should be solved now. I've set myself up and I'm ready to go. When I installed VS2008, I did NOT install everything. Now I am, and everything is well. Thank you both!

[Smilex]

Yeah the VS express version doesn't come with Windows SDK, which I found quite unexpected since Microsoft seems to like to pack every product of theirs into stuff.

[Ninjaboi]

Yeah, it's annoying that I looked online and even at MSDN it appeared that the documentation was removed, so I was thinking "Where can I find it now?". I just decided to buy a book to use as a reference. Not perfect, but it serves it's purpose.