Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 Ide Tutorial Creating Win32 Console Mode Applications

Abstract

Microsoft Visual C++ is a commonly used programming language and application environment in many computer science and computer engineering technology programs. Visual C++ can be used to teach both C and C++ and it boasts a highly powerful, but easy to use, development environment. One of the strengths of the Visual C++ product is the different types of applications that can be generated. Visual C++ supports Windows applications, DLLs, and console-mode applications, to name just a few.

Visual C++ 6.0 is currently used in the C/C++ programming curriculum in the Computer Engineering Technology Department at the University of Memphis. The department has chosen this product to teach C and C++ programming for three major reasons: 1) it is a professional and modern C/C++ programming application platform that is an industry standard, 2) it is relatively easy to use and its rich set of features and tools can be taught in parallel with C/C++ programming concepts and techniques, and 3) it supports console-mode programming.

Visual C++’s console-mode support makes it an ideal application platform for teaching C/C++ programming fundamentals in lower division programming courses. It is believed by many (and supported by many C/C++ programming textbooks) that console-mode programming is an easier environment to teach, analyze, and learn fundamental C/C++ programming concepts and standard programming techniques. Many of these concepts and techniques, when taught in a console-mode environment, are also more portable to other computer platforms.

The purpose of the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 IDE Tutorial is to support computer programming instructors who want to use the Visual C++ product to develop Win32 console-mode applications in introductory C/C++ programming courses without spending several weeks explaining the Visual C++ environment. The tutorial takes a visual, step-by-step approach in demonstrating how to create a Win32, console-mode application as well as covering introductory programming concepts such as the “edit, compile, link, and run” process and useful procedures such as printing source-code and program output. The tutorial is thorough and complete enough to be given as a lab or homework exercise or as a class exercise done in a laboratory setting.

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright Ó 2002, American Society for Engineering Education

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