chow@iris.ucdavis.edu (John L. Chow) (04/04/89)
I am in the process of making the decision of using Microsoft Windows as a standard user interface platform for all application development under MSDOS. However, I have heard mixed feelings about MS Windows from a few people. Some think that it is a very complex windowing environment to program in. Others don't think it is going to be a industrial standard for PC DOS environment. While some like the predefined and consistent user interface environment, there are others who think it is too limited and not flexible if you want to create your own user interface environment. Could some of you please give me your suggestion/advise based on your experience with MS Windows? In addition, I would also like to know: 1. What is the future of MS Windows as a standard for DOS? 2. What are the best reference books on programming MS Windows? 3. Any comments about Glockenspiel's CommonView using C++ for Windows programming? 4. How complex is it for a normal C programmer to learn and use it for a major program development? Is taking a class to learn about MS Windows a good idea? Who offers the best class? 5. What are other alternatives (i.e., NewWave) if MS Windows is not recommended? Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions. -- John Chow chow@iris.ucdavis.edu
pdavid@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Paul C. David) (04/05/89)
In article <3884@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> chow@iris.ucdavis.edu (John L. Chow) writes: >I am in the process of making the decision of using Microsoft >1. What is the future of MS Windows as a standard for DOS? This borders on being a religious issue. From a stylistic point of view, it is said to be very similar to the OS/2 Presentation Manager development environment. There are even software tools to help out on this. >2. What are the best reference books on programming MS Windows? Definitely "Programming Windows" by Petzold. Brought to you by the folks at Microsoft Press. >3. Any comments about Glockenspiel's CommonView using C++ for Windows > programming? Rumbling are that Microsoft will support it. Also that porting to a different windowing environment is a matter of setting a new flag at compile time. So far X-Windows and NeWS are supported. Many feel that Macintosh will follow suit (no pun intended). >4. How complex is it for a normal C programmer to learn and use it for > a major program development? Is taking a class to learn about MS > Windows a good idea? Who offers the best class? If you've got the money, Microsoft University puts out a series of videos, with workbooks. Otherwise, unless UCD teaches a class in Windowing Environments, you may get by just studying Petzold'd book. Experience in any Windowing system will give you a head start. > chow@iris.ucdavis.edu -- Paul C. David pdavid@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU California Polytechic State University, San Luis Obispo Home of the six-year or 60,000 mile undergraduate degree