Visual C++

[Craig321]

Hello,

I have asked this before on various forums but, unfortunately have never got a solid answer.

I wondered, if I got Visual C++ Express edition could I design my forms using drag & drop, then inserting the coding without using .NET framework? I really don't want people that use the application to have to use .NET framework.

If that's not possible, or if it's a big hassle, would I be better off using a form designer (like ResEd) and then just coding around it using Dev-C++?

Thanks,
Craig.

[stytagm]

Hi Craig,

I haven't used the express C++, but I used to use visual c++ 6.0 and now use c# (.Net). I think the problem is that most of the drag and drop widgets are .Net controls, the older non .Net ones were MFC (Microsoft foundation classes), which I think has been excluded from the express editions of visual c++.

So I know that the express c++ can compile normal (non-managed) c++ quite happily, but I think Microsoft don't provide any great libraries for forms / windows development.

You could try using a third party library with c++ express (wxwidgets maybe? But considering that .Net is free, is it such a crime to use the .Net framework?

Having said that, Managed C++ (c++.net if you like) is meant to be very nasty compared to normal c++ or a language like c# which was designed for managed code.

Hope that's not muddied the waters too much.

[Craig321]

Hello,

.NET isn't a bad thing, I always install it on my computers, I just don't want the people who I give the program to to have to install .NET framework.

You say managed C++ is meant to be nasty compared to normal C++? Would I be better off just learning in Dev-C++ and using ResEd for forms?

Thanks,
Craig.

[stytagm]

Hi again,

I don't know ResEd but my experiences with Dev c++ a few years back (If I'm thinking of the correct thing) were a bit negative.

I'd be tempted to try ResEd with the c++ express edition just using ordinary non-managed C++. That way you're not using .Net or MFC, but you do get a pretty and modern IDE. If it doesn't work use Dev- c++

Managed c++ is (If I understand correctly) a bit fudged together and pointless. Because old languages like C++ don't manage your memory for you, they let you do things at a relatively low level (pointers, new, delete etc) because c++ expects you to be aware of memory management issues.

.Net manages memory for you, and thus doesn't allow you to do many "dangerous" operations directly involving memory. To facilitate this a language like C# is designed without things like pointers and delete, because they're not needed.

Managed c++ is like the halfbreed child of both, it has all the complexity and hassle of c++, but the .Net bits don't let you have the fine control over your memory etc. So effectively you get the worst of both worlds.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers - Andrew.

[stytagm]

You've got me interested and I found couple of interesting bits. This code project page is right on the money:
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems...S2005Win32.asp
And this page is also interesting:
http://xurble.org/weblog/2004/10/usi...c-express.html

[Craig321]

Thanks for the information and the links

I think I'm going to try out ResEd and C++ Express as you suggested

Thanks,
Craig.

[Craig321]

Hi stytagm,

Just found a pretty cool program called wxDev-C++ - it uses a combination of wxWidgets and Dev-C++ to make applications.

I'm not 100% sure how it works yet, but I'm going to go through the tutorials.

Just thought you might be interested :http://wxdsgn.sourceforge.net/index.php

[Craig321]

Also, not sure if you'd be interested, but I found this on my quest for "C++ visual application easyness": http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php

A free setup creator, extremely easy to use and it has a similar layout to InstallShield setups which is cool

[Spud1]

Just as a straight answer to your first question - No you can't compile your applicaiton using anything from the .NET libraries (such as windows forms) and run it without having the .NET framework installed.

However you could always include the framework with your installer package - and remember that the majority of new PCs will have it installed by default, and a proportion of the general population will have installed it at some point (those with ATI graphics cards for example, as .NET is required for the control centre)

[Craig321]

True, most people probably do have it installed these days.

For now, I am using wxDev-C++ which is basically what I wanted - drag and drop forms/controls to make normal C++ applications that don't rely on .NET framework.

Thanks for the help,
Craig.