What programming language should I use to create small, native Windows Applications?

Question

Hi friends,

               I want to develop an application that runs on any Windows platform (Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7) but does not require a dependency like the .NET Framework or JVM. I have given the other requirements below:

   1. Runs in any windows platform
   2. Must have GUI libraries to create windows/primitive controls

The output .exe should also be very small, which negates the use of the .NET Framework.

Any suggestions for this requirement?

Thanks......................

Answer 1

1
   

Also consider the Windows Template Library. You can access all the bells and whistles of the Aero with easy to use template classes. The best practice is to use C++ and ATL / WTL libraries. Also boost and stl are your best friends when it comes to C++ programming. The learning curve is a bit steep. But once you get through a few basics. You'll just get addicted. Unfortunately WTL doesn't have a documentation but the library is very solid and widely used among professionals. You should hunt down sample codes on Google which is straight forward.

By the way someone mentioned that using stl or boost can produce large executables. Well this is rather wrong because you don't pay for the features you don't use (in terms of size) since the classes are just "templates" and never gets -compiled- unless you instantiate/use them.