forum.vdsworld.com

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject: VDS and C

I want to learn some C, and would like to know which one to buy that would be best to go along with VDS..
Since I don't know too much about C and have noticed so many different software packages, one was Borland C++ with Delphi.
I have no idea which one to buy, so I figured I should ask the C experts here at forum since some price around 1000 dollars or more.
Thanks in advance

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject:

Hi Vtol,

Most of us that program in C, here anyway, use LCC-Win32 as our compiler system. It can be found at -> http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~lcc-win32 . If this link is wrong, just do a search on the web for Lcc-Win32.
The author of LCC-WIN32 is Jacob Navia.

Good luck!

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks Bill
I'm downloading the 5m tutorial right now.
It looks good, but is should I buy a more expensive package(I'm wondering it would be an easier interface - not sure what I'm looking for)

And glad to see you still here, I have simular problems here in Indiana(ExRoofer Construction Welding Wiring Mechanic - and many other job experience body destroying past work - I know how you feel with the hardwood floors past) I'm thinking about robbing gas stations for a living(since thier listing them as price gougers) hehe - J/K its rough out there.

VDS has a nice easy looking GUI with a nice Help system, I'm not even sure if any C packages come with GUI or what - lol
I bought a couple C books a few years ago, but havn't read them hardly at all (usually I read every book I get).
Maybe I should stick to DOS, hehe

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Vtol,

Believe it or not it was the VDS @sendmsg() function that caught my
attention and started my way to learning C.

If there is anything that I can do to help, dont hesitate to email me and I'd
be glad to help in anyway that I can. Smile

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:

Vtol,

I don't see any reason to buy an expensive development system. All my
extensions are compiled with LCC-WIN32 and so is dragonsphere's
Gadget.Dll. If that doesn't say enough, then I don't know what will.

I think that it's a good idea, personal opinion, to start with C first, and then
branch off into C++ once you are proficient at C. I have a basic
understanding of C++, but still am not comfortable programming with it,
and I've been programming in C for 5 or 6 years now.

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject:

Well thank you very much, thats nice of you to offer lccwin32 advice.
I been reading the tutorial while d/l the lccwin32.exe and I can start seeing what you mean, it seem C would be more what I want(total control) and VDS for quickness times.
One part is kinda like HTML, I mean the header part reminds me of HTML Frames and the wedit kinda looks like my cuteHTMLprofessional(yeah this looks interesting - I like it YUM!).

Yeah its gonna be nice to make some tiny DOS(16bit) utilitys too.

Hey you wouldnt know anything about INNO setup would you, I need to figure out how to keep it from uninstalling the vdsrun50.dll when uninstall ran, or some way to leave the vdsrun50.dll

Thanks a million for the link and related goodies...

vdsalchemist · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:

Vtol,
While I am not a C expert. I have built VDS DLL's with Dev-C++, Borland C++, and MicroSoft Visual C++ but I perfer just good ole Lcc-Win32. There is also a completely free C compiler for Windows called Pelles C which uses the same compiler backend as Lcc-Win32 but I have not used it yet.

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Vtol, I don't know a thing about INNO setup. Only one of my extensions
uses an installer, and I wrote it. I really haven't written anything large
enough to require an installer, but for when I do, I have NSIS, a scriptable
installer that is configurable and FREE, as is INNO setup I believe. If I'm
not mistaken, there are several members here that do use INNO setup.
You might want to start another thread for this question.

If I'm not mistaken, LCC-WIN32 only output 32 bit code. But since most
people are running Windows 98 and up that won't be a problem anyway.

Like I said, if I can answer any questions or give any advice, please feel
free to contact me.

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject:

OK, and thanks Dragonsphere(I was trying to find your gadget dll and never could - is it dun and can I have a link - I not been around awhile)

hey Bill, I think I will try NSIS since INNO has allways been user unfriendly to me...

My programs arent that big either, I just like the installer to make them easy for anybody to install and run them when downloaded. (INNO takes like 5 minutes to rap one up)
Thanks again to both of you... Cool

vdsalchemist · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

vTol,
There is no compiler system out there that can make a DOS 16bit DLL directly. This is because there is no such thing as DOS 16bit DLL's. Now there is one C++ distro that can make DOS 16bit EXE's and that is Watcom C++ that you can get for free at http://www.openwatcom.org/ Long long ago I used to use WatCom before it became Open Source. Now I only use Lcc-Win32. Using Watcom C++ you could make Windows 16bit DLL's but really there is not that much call for 16bit anything.

I have made a VDS Tool that can convert a 32bit VDS exe (ie... GUI) to a Windows 32bit Console exe (ie... CUI). I have not released it to the public yet since I am still deciding if it would be worth selling or not? I think Jules mentioned he might add this option into the next version of VDS but I don't know if he will remember or will have time to do so.

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject:

Well, I just meant an EXE that would run in Windows98 DOS, I thought a C EXE would do that, I was never sure.

When will your Gadget be done?

Hey ShinobiSoft
I d/l your SSZip, does it work good, if so I will buy it, I been looking for a vds zip utility for long time, I seen in its help where it would open more than 1 zip thru command line, WinXp can't do that with the rightCLICK, lotta nice features - looks great(I'll check it out later).

You guys been a great help - Appreciate it.. Smile

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:19 pm Post subject:

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

I downloaded it little while ago and read that about half way down in your main.html page(see below):

ShinobiSoft · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:19 pm Post subject:

HI Vtol,

The command you have shown here will extract all files from a zip file to
a specified folder. However, this can be implemented thru a context menu
item added to Explorers RCLICK context menu.

You can use vdscontext.dsc for an example of how to add a context menu
item to Explorers RCLICK context menu. And then write a simple VDS app
to call SSZip.Dll to handle the actual file extraction.

vtol · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject:

Sorry my slow connection while downloading caused the great re-edit delayof my previous post I updated it. Embarassed

Yeah but it can be done a lotta different ways like you said, I love it.

Good job, I'll wait to test it after I buy it, because I don't like testing out of the vds IDE(its kinda buggy at times - or just seems) I think I can trust you Cool

I'll buy it right after this slow poke API Document gets downloaded - lol
My connection speed is 16.8kbps(1KB/sec) <---- Embarassed

sad huh?
To think I pay Earthlink 23 bucks a month for that Laughing