Introduction
Welcome to Visual C++. Over the next 21 days, you will learn how to use the features
that Microsoft has built into its C++ development environment to enable you to create
very advanced applications for the Windows and NT platforms. When Microsoft’s developers
first came up with the idea behind Visual C++, they decided to take their worldclass
C++ compiler and create a development environment and set of tools that would
enable developers to create Windows applications with a level of ease and speed that was
unheard of among C++ development environments. Since that first version, Microsoft
has continued to improve the tools that are a part of Visual C++ to make it even easier to
create Windows applications. As Microsoft has introduced new technologies into the
Windows platforms, it has also introduced tools into the Visual C++ suite to make it easy
to integrate these new technologies into your applications.
If you are new to C++, don’t worry. I’ve tried to make it easy for you to learn the C++
programming language while also learning how to build applications using the Visual
C++ tools. Just in case you find yourself having trouble understanding some aspect of
C++, I’ve included a brief overview of the programming language in Appendix A,
"C++ Review.”
If you’ve looked at previous versions of this book, you might notice that I’ve completely
rewritten the entire book. Our goal with this new version is not just to introduce you to
and guide you through the various tools and resources that you will use to build applications
with Visual C++; I’ve also tried to include a great deal more detail about the various
options that are available to you with each of the features that are covered. This way,
you’ll be able to get a lot of use out of this book long after the initial 21 days.

DAVIS CHAPMAN first began programming computers while working on his master’s
degree in music composition. Writing applications for computer music, he discovered
that he enjoyed designing and developing computer software. It wasn’t long before he
came to the realization that he stood a much better chance of eating if he stuck with his
new-found skill and demoted his hard-earned status as a "starving artist” to a part-time
hobby. Since that time, Davis has focused on the art of software design and development,
with a strong emphasis on the practical application of client/server technology. Davis
is the lead author of Web Development with Visual Basic 5 and Building Internet
Applications with Delphi 2. Davis is also a contributing author of Special Edition Using
Active Server Pages and Running a Perfect Web Site, Second Edition.