Get Started with Win32 and C++

The aim of this Get Started series is to teach you how to write a desktop program in C++ using Win32 and COM APIs.

In the first module, you'll learn step-by-step how to create and show a window. Later modules will introduce the Component Object Model (COM), graphics and text, and user input.

For this series, it is assumed that you have a good working knowledge of C++ programming. No previous experience with Windows programming is assumed. If you are new to C++, learning material is available in the C++ language documentation.

In this section

Topic	Description
Intro to Win32 programming in C++	This section describes some of the basic terminology and coding conventions used in Windows programming.
Module 1. Your First Windows Program	In this module, you will create a simple Windows program that shows a blank window.
Module 2. Using COM in Your Windows Program	This module introduces the Component Object Model (COM), which underlies many of the modern Windows APIs.
Module 3. Windows Graphics	This module introduces the Windows graphics architecture, with a focus on Direct2D.
Module 4. User Input	This module describes mouse and keyboard input.
Sample Code	Contains links to download the sample code for this series.