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Windows API: About

An article about the various versions of the Windows API.

The Windows API comes in several different forms today. The core of the Windows API (WinAPI) is programmed using the C/C++ programming language. The WinAPI is the most powerful because it exposes all the features of every new Windows operating system version.

The next API is a set of C++ classes, the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), that wrap some of the complexity of the core Windows API. It loses some access to the latest operating system abilities until updated by Microsoft. But MFC was still complex and Microsoft needed a newer API that was easier to program with. See Analog Clock, Tic-Tac-Toe and Hex Dump for MFC examples.

Finally, Microsoft came out with a more-powerful-than-MFC API called the .NET Framework. More powerful and easier to use by utililizing higher generation languages like C# and VB.NET and having a more extensive library. The downside to this API is that the .NET Framework must be installed on each machine except Windows Vista and later versions. See Analog Clock, Tic-Tac-Toe, HexDump, Image Viewer and System Info for .NET examples.

Windows.NET Version
Vista3.0
Windows 73.5
Windows 84.5
Windows 8.14.5.1
Windows 104.6
Windows 104.6.1

MFC and the .NET Framework both, for the most part, work on top of the core Windows API with a goal to simplify the core API and speed the development cycle.

Windows API: "Helper" Service Program

An example Windows service program that executes another program; written in C/C++.
Windows API: About

An article about the various versions of the Windows API.
Windows API: AC/DC Power

How to determine if a Windows PC is on DC/battery power or AC/wall power; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Basic Console Setup Program (setup.exe)

A Windows console setup program; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Basic DirectX 11 Example

A very basic DirectX 11 (Direct3D) example; written in C++.
Windows API: Basic Screen Saver Example

A Windows API screen saver example that used GDI+ and displays the images in the Pictures folder; written in C++.
Windows API: Convert Decimal to Binary

Convert decimal number to binary number; written in C.
Windows API: DirectX 11 (Direct2D) Screen Saver Example

A Windows API screen saver example using DirectX 11 that displays the images in the Pictures folder; written in C++.
Windows API: Get Console Window Handle (HWND)

This mostly applies to older versions of Windows though it works with newer versions just as well; written in C.
Windows API: Graphical Setup Program (Setup.exe)

A Windows graphical setup program with example executables; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Hello C++

A basic Windows API program example; written in C++.
Windows API: Hello World

A basic hello world Windows program example; written in C.
Windows API: Prevent Computer Going To Sleep

How to prevent a Windows PC from going to sleep and then how to restore its ability to sleep again; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Remote Shutdown Service Program and Linux Daemon

An example Windows service program and Linux daemon that allows shutdown or reboot from a remote Windows computer; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Shutdown and Reboot (InitiateSystemShutdown)

How to programmatically shutdown and optionally reboot the computer; written in C/C++.
Windows API: Tic-Tac-Toe Example

A fun game; written in C/C++.
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