MFC is a good library?

[dman]

Hi,

I have started in C++ with MFC library.
Now I found another library like ATL.

How different between MFC and another library?
And should I started with library?

Thank you,
dman

[ralph]

"dman" <freelancecoder@thaimail.com> wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
>I have started in C++ with MFC library.
>Now I found another library like ATL.
>
>How different between MFC and another library?
>And should I started with library?
>
>Thank you,
>dman

The ATL and the MFC are two separate object libraries with two different
goals with very different implementation, and therefore are two separate
tools, designed for two separate solutions. Normally you will NOT mix them.

The MFC is designed for providing OO classes for writing Windows Client/GUI
applications. It is essentially a C++ wrapper for the Win32 API and profides
a framework for registering and creating windows and creating messge maps,
etc.. The ATL was designed for providing OO templates for writing Server/COM
applications.

It can get confusing because you can write services and COM components with
MFC, and you can provide some GUI support in an ATL project if you really
wanted to. ATL servers tend to be leaner (which is what you want in a service)
as many unneeded libraries are not linked in such as the C startup. This
however, is not necessary what is needed in a GUI.