Visual C++ and C++/CLI

Question

Hello everyone I need to know merely a single thing, that I'm a intermediate C++ programmer and I want to learn Windows development using Visual C++ MFC.

I just need to ask that while learning Visual C++ is it necessary to learn C++/CLI or it is optional or it is a good or quick way to learn Windows development please please tell me as soon as possible. I'm consulting a book Beginning Visual C++ 2012 by Ivor's Horton, and this book doesn't say anything about C++/CLI. But I need to know that what is the role of C++/CLI in Visual C++ development.

Thank You  

  

Answer 1

If you want to use MFC, you won't need C++/CLI.

C++/CLI is only required if you want to write .NET code from C++.  It's the extensions of the C++ language for working with .NET.  Frankly, I wouldn't use it to develop UI apps from C++ - it's really better for wrapping up C++ code to be usable from other .NET languages like C#.

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Reed Copsey, Jr. - http://reedcopsey.com
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Answer 2

Hello everyone I need to know merely a single thing, that I'm a intermediate C++ programmer and I want to learn Windows development using Visual C++ MFC.
 
I just need to ask that while learning Visual C++ is it necessary to learn C++/CLI or it is optional or it is a good or quick way to learn Windows development please please tell me as soon as possible. I'm consulting a book Beginning Visual C++ 2012 by Ivor's Horton, and this book doesn't say anything about C++/CLI. But I need to know that what is the role of C++/CLI in Visual C++ development.

Reed's response is correct -- you do not need C++/CLI in order to use MFC.
 
However, are you absolutely sure you want to learn MFC at this point? Many of us here use it (guilty as charged), but we put the learing time in long ago when MFC was almost the only game in town for writing Windows apps.
 

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David Wilkinson | Visual C++ MVP