C# and mfc

[Jprisco]

Im just wondering if you will be able to use mfc in c#.. Im pretty new to programming and have been studying mfc. this is something Ive heard next to nothing about and id like to know as soon as possible if i am wasting my time at this point as I will probably start learning c# as soon as a compiler is available...

52901368

You are definitely wasting your time on MFC. It junky old stuff. Concentrate on new stuff like C# or Java.

[Dinu]

But C# is based on MFC library, or am I wrong?

Dinu Sco*****

[thegios]

No, u're not wrong. And NO, it's not a waste of time learning MFC: it's the must if wanna develop in win32 env (assuming u're not developing in VB). More, C# uses MFC and VB components: C# does not have its own class library so you will be using the VB and VC++ libraries.

I've seen things u ppl couldn't believe...

C# does not use MFC and VB components... it has the "ability" to use those libraries/components. And no, it is not built on top of MFC as one of the previous posters stated/asked.

[ALM]

I believe you're wrong. Where did you read or hear that?

As far as what I've read, C# will have access to a new "Common Language Subset" library which will also be available to C++ and VB.

Regards,
Alvaro

So then its safe to say that you can use normal class libs currently used in vc++ (MFC,ATL) in this new c#???

[jfergason]

I'm pretty sure that you will be able to use mfc in your C# programs. Although I wouldn't recommend learning C# as it is essentially a subset of C++ but more restrictive in the fact that it binds you to the Windows Operating Environment.

[Jprisco]

Thats a very good point that I kind hace overlooked.....Does this mean that C# will only be usefull on the windows platform???
Another question is how valueable is it to be able to program for different platforms...
Im still new to programming and hoping one day to get into the field I need to know what is most important , or valuable things to know /study
I appreciate the great reponse and the info that you have all provided....
J.Prisco

52901368

When I was an undergraduate at SDSU (San Diego State University) they taught C++. After 4 years I return for some Masters classes and now Java has taken the place of C++. Right now I would say Java is a sure bet for at least the next few years to come. Take a look at the want ads in many of the hot programmers areas such as Silicon Valley, Dallas, Austin, etc and you'll see a lot of companies asking for Java programmers.

Certainly not. You connot use MFC and especialy ATL or WTL with C# cause it does NOT support many features used in this libraries. With C# you can ONLY use COM-ojects like in VB.

[aamirdogar]

How do u say that it is only for windows.

thing is that it is portable and when u can port some code then where does the dependencies comes in.

Aamir

So what is knowlege of mfc or atl good for outside of c++??

[Karmus]

Im just wondering if you will be able to use mfc in c#.. Im pretty new to programming and have been studying mfc. this is something Ive heard next to nothing about and id like to know as soon as possible if i am wasting my time at this point as I will probably start learning c# as soon as a compiler is available...


I'm pretty sure you are confused right now, so I'll try to clarify some things.

First, C# is not tied in to the Windows environment. Why? C# was submitted to ECMA, an standards committee, by Microsoft. C# will be a subset of C++, like C++ is a subset of C. So anything like MFC or Win32 functions *should* work when using a MS C# compiler.

Second, MFC is just an encapsulation of the Win32 API. The Win32 API is just a set of functions itself, not defined as the libraries to C#, therefore it's incorrect to say that MFC and Win32 is a standard library of C#. In fact, the API's themselves are just functions of C code and assembly language.

The purpose of C# is to create an extension to current C++ standards, enabling programmers to do more things or make things easier.

Yes, C# can work cross-platform if you conform to future C# standards (and standard libraries) set by ECMA. You will need to just recompile codes on other platforms, just like C and C++. Of course, if you use Win32 API functions (or COM, or MFC, etc.), it is not cross-platform compatible.

One word of advice, you may want to try to learn Win32 API first before MFC. Why? You'll figure that a lot more things you need to do will require the API functions, in addition to MFC, which is just an encapsulation of it. Of course, if you are not really interested on what goes on inside of MFC, you can just learn MFC.

Frank

[ravish]

May be just the programming experience of C++. I dont think in anyway C# will be related to MFC. But things developed using MFC can be used in c#. It will be a new language as C++ came from C,and before we assume something let us see how it develops. It might be too early to assume, we shall wait till PDC, I beleive we will know more about it then.
Ravi