How should I learn to use the Windows API with Python?

Question

I have very little experience building software for Windows, and zero experience using the Windows API, but I\'m reasonably familiar with Python. How should I go about learn

Answer 1

Once upon a time I read over some Win32 API tutorials at www.relisoft.com

They are an anti-MFC and pro-Win32 API shop and have a manifesto of sorts explaining practical reasons for why.

They also have a general C++ tutorial. 99% of the time I like their programming style for what it's worth.

Answer 2

I strongly recommend theForger's Win32 API Tutorial. Its a C tutorial, but he pretty much holds your hand and shows you the basics. Its also pretty short, which is nice in a tutorial.

Answer 3

Honestly, no. The Windows API is an 800 pound monster covered with hair. Charlie Petzold's 15 pound book was the canonical reference once upon a time.

That said, the Python for Windows folks have some good material. Microsoft has the whole API online, including some sample code and such. And the Wikipedia article is a good overview.

Answer 4

About 4 years ago I set out to truly understand the Windows API. I was coding in C# at the time, but I felt like the framework was abstracting me too much from the API (which it was). So I switched to Delphi (C++ or C would have also been good choices).

In my opinion, it is important that you start working in a language that creates native code and talks directly to the Windows API and makes you care about buffers, pointers, structures, and real constructs that Windows uses directly. C# is a great language, but not the best choice for learning the Windows API.

Next, buy Mark Russinovich's book "Windows Internals" Amazon link. This is the 5th edition. The 6th edition is coming out April 2012 and adds info about Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7.

And now, for the most important (and best) resource for learning Win32 API:

Mark Russinovich's Windows Operating Systems Internals Curriculum which is offered for free.

It is designed to be used by an instructor to teach students. I went through it and it is awesome. Full of examples, history, and detailed explanations. In my opinion, this is an ideal way to learn the Windows API.

Mark Russinovich is a Microsoft Technical Fellow (there are only 14 at MS including the creator of C#). He used to own Winternals until he sold it to MS, he has a PhD in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, he has been a frequent presenter at Microsoft conferences (even before he worked for them), and he is crazy smart. His presentations are one of the primary reasons I attend Microsoft TechEd every year.

Answer 5

" > free resource to learn how to use the windows API (preferably with python)

1. You may refer Python Programming on Win32 by Mark Hammond and Andy Robinson along with pywin32.

2. If you are not interested to use pywin32, you can use ctypes — A foreign function library for Python and the Forger's Win32 API Programming Tutorial.

3. Refer Example Code : Shared Memory with Mutex (pywin32 and ctypes)

Answer 6

Avoid tutorials (written by kids, for kids, newbie level) Read the Petzold, Richter, Pietrek, Russinovich and Adv. Win32 api newsgroup news://comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32