How do I get started with windows programming?

[cgwalls]

So I've read through all of the tutorials on the site and I was just curious on how people make windowed programs. I don't think I'm quite ready for that but I just want to know how it's done so I would be able to do it in the future once I'm a bit more advanced with C++.

[Lamblion]

You can't even begin to program Windows until you read Petzold --

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Windows%C2%AE-Fifth-Microsoft/dp/157231995X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247198412&sr=8-1

This is where you start. There really is no other place to start. This fifth edition was written 1999, but most of the techniques are all still up to date. The book is over a 1,000 pages and will walk you through every aspect of creating basic to intermediate Windows applications.

[mackabee]

If doing Win32 Window programming get ready to archive a lottttt of example code ;) Gonna be a lot of copying and pasting lol

http://winprog.org/tutorial/start.html

I used that for beginning

[cgwalls]

okay cool so i don't have to download anything? i had to download allegro to make games but i guess windows programming is different.

[Lamblion]

The Forger site he referred you to is good, but there are a GREAT MANY things missing there that you will find in Petzold.