MFC over WinAPI?

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MFC over WinAPI?
Hello MPGH,

Can I learn MFC (Microsoft Foundational Classes) instead of Win32/WinAPI since i've heard MFC is a more organized, modern Win32 environment? My goal is to learn how to develop cheats, but I want to do it the best way possible, if MFC is the way to go thats what I want to do.

-Jay
More or less, you can. You can use MFC to do the bulk of your logic. If you cannot find a MFC equivalent of a WinAPI command, then you can use the WinAPI command. Whatever you do, you'll still need DirectX.

You can even venture in CLR, if you wish.
MFC is easier, but much more bloated and slow. You'll learn more if you learn WinAPI first and then maybe experiment in MFC, but if you want to do the easy way go with MFC. For hacks and what not, you'll be using some WinAPI either way.
Quote Originally Posted by mmbob View Post
MFC is easier, but much more bloated and slow. You'll learn more if you learn WinAPI first and then maybe experiment in MFC, but if you want to do the easy way go with MFC. For hacks and what not, you'll be using some WinAPI either way.
You're right with MFC being slow... However, it doesn't make that much of a difference in performance, considering the efficiency of (public) code that has been posted.
I think I should learn WinAPI as well, their is just little competent documentation on it. I'm more of a visual learner, I use reading to reinforce what I already know. Beside xoax.net's stuff, their is practically no videos on the topic.
Quote Originally Posted by JayFabulous View Post
I think I should learn WinAPI as well, their is just little competent documentation on it. I'm more of a visual learner, I use reading to reinforce what I already know. Beside xoax.net's stuff, their is practically no videos on the topic.
On which topic?
Quote Originally Posted by freedompeace View Post
On which topic?
Win32 GUI development. I can read, but it takes me twice as long then if i had a video to go with it.

I usually like MSDN's tutorials but I haven't seen much on Win32 from them...
Quote Originally Posted by JayFabulous View Post
Win32 GUI development. I can read, but it takes me twice as long then if i had a video to go with it.

I usually like MSDN's tutorials but I haven't seen much on Win32 from them...
That's because the Win32 platform isn't aimed at new developers. In fact, Microsoft kind of wants all developers to switch to their .NET / CLR platforms (VB, C#, C+ with -CLR).

The main users / developers of Win32 are the big commercial companies, or advanced programmers. People who start out are targeted by Visual Basic, or C#, and hence the massive amount of video tutorials on them. For game development, it's XNA + VB/C#.

Sorry for fail / grammar fail / English fail paragraph - me is on phone.
For making, hacks, loaders, etc. you need the WINAPI. The WINAPI is like a collection of function that allows you to communicate with the OS. Like getting processes, reading/writing files, creating processes/thread, and more. Also you can create windows, buttons, checkboxes and much more. When I use MFC then for GUI's because it's very easy to make forms. With the pure WINAPI you would need the right knowledge or you will fail at creating a window. MFC uses the WINAPI, but this framework helps you alot at building GUI's.

You can also use wxWidgets, qt or .NET to create GUI's.
Quote Originally Posted by Gordon` View Post
For making, hacks, loaders, etc. you need the WINAPI. The WINAPI is like a collection of function that allows you to communicate with the OS. Like getting processes, reading/writing files, creating processes/thread, and more. Also you can create windows, buttons, checkboxes and much more. When I use MFC then for GUI's because it's very easy to make forms. With the pure WINAPI you would need the right knowledge or you will fail at creating a window. MFC uses the WINAPI, but this framework helps you alot at building GUI's.

You can also use wxWidgets, qt or .NET to create GUI's.
About how much of the API would be suffice? I'm begging to understand what all the function calls and arguments are.
look for a book by Charles Pretzold on winapi, there is a free pdf version i believe, just google it. You should know like the first 100 pages to understand functions and stuff. Trust me though, once u start, u won't want to stop Winapi is amazing, not for gui's though cuz u gotta know what ur doing cuz it's hardcore stuff man(for me atleast ). LOL, good luck.
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