Is Learning the win32 API Worthwhile? [closed]

Answer 1

The question is much like, "Is learning assembly worthwhile"; and the answer is the same:

"Yes, because you will understand the fundamentals, and be able to perceive deeper than those who only work at the top level of abstraction".

However, by the same token, you probably won't be writing Win32 API directly 99.5% of the time.

Answer 2

You'll never be able to just "learn" the entire win32 API, it's too much to take in, and it will be a moving target. If you develop in C#, there's no real point.

That said, try creating Notepad using plain C and just API calls. That will teach you enough for a C# developer to at least appreciate it.

Answer 3

In your career it will be unlikely that you will only be creating greenfield applications where you will have the freedom to choose the technology and programming languages used.

Sooner or later you will have to integrate with old code written in Win32 and C/C++. In that case, knowledge of Win32 will help, especially if you are integrating using PInvoke or C++/CLI.

Answer 4

I personally think it's still worthwhile learning the Win32 API.

As far as I recall when I started learning Win32 (after doing some VB(A), Pascal, etc.) I learned a lot about Windows and understood how thing works in Windows. Everything was so clearer. :)

So, as per your question - you will learn a lot about Windows through learning Win32. As you said - you're a C# programmer and I'm not sure if you'll use it often, because almost everything you need is already there, in .NET.

Answer 5

.NET is implemented using win32 api, anyone wishing to possess deeper understanding of .NET would greatly benefit from having at least marginal knowlege of win32api.

Answer 6

I like to further add to this. I never formally studied Win32 API/MFC. I started using Visual C++ 4 when I first got interested in GUI programming. Anyway, I wish I kept that foundation then, as I never caught on quick enough (I was rather young then, actually), so I studied Visual Basic instead.

For some reason, Delphi never interested me even though I knew Pascal well enough, but I digress. These days, I work in IT and develop installer scripts in NSIS - and every so often I need additional functionality that NSIS doesn't provide, so I make my own plugin and to keep it quick and dependency free, I opt for Win32 API opposed to MFC or even full blown C++.

The main reason for this comment, is that my own curiosity got me hooked. I like to know more, so where is the best resource for learning the API. A book? Website?

Would MFC still be worth tackling as well? I did see a website about a fellow that develops Win32 GUI apps, in assembly! I think that is overkill, honestly, but it is compact, fast code, interesting, the concept, but I never was able to get the hang of 80x86 assembly (hell, even RISC assembly in college I never was able to do!)