Windows programming, Multi-threading, Database connections in C++

[Ryan Shrott]

My new job requires that I have a deep understanding of the following concepts:

1. Windows programming
2. Database connections
3. Multi threading

Can someone provide introductory references to help me learn these concepts?

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Which programming language? C++, C#, C++/CLI?

Can you specify a bit more please as there is lots of stuff out there.

 

[Ryan Shrott]

@Daniel Duffy I will be using C++ for these projects.

Some main tasks will involve:

- MFC's threading library
- job scheduling application
- Optimization routines

 

[alain]

@Daniel Duffy I will be using C++ for these projects.

Some main tasks will involve:

- MFC's threading library
- job scheduling application
- Optimization routines

why MFC's Threading library? Why not C++11 Threads?

What sort of optimization? Mathematical Optimization?

 

[Ryan Shrott]

@alain I would prefer to use C++11 threads, but I must use
MFC's Threading library since we only use Visual Studio 2008 with no C++11 support. I will provide more information about the optimization when I learn more about this.

For now, I was wondering if anyone could provide resources to learn about databases, MFC's threading library and windows programming. I know these are broad topics. I will provide more info when I find out more. Anything to help me start would be great.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Unfortunately, you are very much constrained by legacy VS2008 and super-legacy MFC. It's between a rock and a hard place. IMO you need to be at least on VS2010 and ideally VS2015.

MSDN has lots of stuff on MFC.

C++ is a pain with databases; C# is much easier.

For threading you could use Boost Thread which works with VS2008. For databases, ADO.NET is the MS standard.

Do you maintain a legacy C++/MFC application? To be honest, MFC is really really outdated.

Here is something I wrote on Boost Thread
https://www.quantnet.com/threads/c-multithreading-in-boost.10028/

 

[Daniel Duffy]

A useful reference (still in print?)
"MFC Internals" by Shepherd and Wingo.

Of course, you can do everything in C++/CLI :D QED

C++/CLI Threading: Part I

 

[pingu]

Try to use openmp as much as you can. Boost.Threads is also good alternative but try to avoid MFC at all costs.

Install some well known free libraries. Boost and POCO should be at the top of your list.

PS - You are in for a lot of pain.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Try to use openmp as much as you can. Boost.Threads is also good alternative but try to avoid MFC at all costs.

Install some well known free libraries. Boost and POCO should be at the top of your list.

PS - You are in for a lot of pain.

I agree. OpenMP is a great way to learn.

A disgruntled user once said "Microsoft Frustration Classes".

=====
SOCI library for DB
SOCI - The C++ Database Access Library

 

[Ryan Shrott]

Unfortunately, you are very much constrained by legacy VS2008 and super-legacy MFC. It's between a rock and a hard place. IMO you need to be at least on VS2010 and ideally VS2015.

MSDN has lots of stuff on MFC.

C++ is a pain with databases; C# is much easier.

For threading you could use Boost Thread which works with VS2008. For databases, ADO.NET is the MS standard.

Do you maintain a legacy C++/MFC application? To be honest, MFC is really really outdated.

Here is something I wrote on Boost Thread
https://www.quantnet.com/threads/c-multithreading-in-boost.10028/

Thanks for the references. I am maintaining legacy C++/MFC application. For that reason, I am constrained by the MFC threading interface.

 

[Ryan Shrott]

Try to use openmp as much as you can. Boost.Threads is also good alternative but try to avoid MFC at all costs.

Install some well known free libraries. Boost and POCO should be at the top of your list.

PS - You are in for a lot of pain.

I've quickly realized this. I am constantly dealing with an onslaught of compiler errors.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Ryan,
Believe it or not, I am porting MFC from ages ago and I get error


MSG* pMsg = &AfxGetThread()->m_msgCur;

"m_msgCur is not a member of CWinThread"

Any ideas??

 

[Ryan Shrott]

@Daniel Duffy I'm currently reading your article on threading -- thanks for this. I'm still trying to understand the basic concepts -- I'm finding it a difficult concept. I'll update you if I figure that out. Thanks.

 

[Ryan Shrott]

@Daniel Duffy Are you porting an MFC multi threading application to use boost::threads? I am considering doing this.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

@Daniel Duffy Are you porting an MFC multi threading application to use boost::threads? I am considering doing this.

I needed to port just the UI part of a single-threaded app. A lot of MFC stuff is not supported any more in VS2015, painful.

Why not use C++11 Threading?

 

[Ryan Shrott]

Why not use C++11 Threading?

I can't use C++11 Threading because I only have access to VS 2008.

I have been debugging an MFC application for over a week now. I don't feel like I am making any progress. I am considering changing everything to boost::threads instead.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I can't use C++11 Threading because I only have access to VS 2008.

I have been debugging an MFC application for over a week now. I don't feel like I am making any progress. I am considering changing everything to boost::threads instead.

An advantage of VS2008 is that some MFC code has not yet been deprecated/unsupported, but this has major consequences..

It means VS2008 will be used for some more years?

 

[pingu]

An advantage of VS2008 is that some MFC code has not yet been deprecated/unsupported, but this has major consequences..

It means VS2008 will be used for some more years?

like VC++ 6? That one is still around

 

[Daniel Duffy]

like VC++ 6? That one is still around

Yeah.
I gave a course last year to a company that build dredging machines. They still use VC++ 6.0, it's blisteringly fast.

My fav error message "INTERNAL COMPILER ERROR, contact Microsoft"

 

[Daniel Duffy]

thinking about it, Ryan

would it not be better to us VC++ 6.0 instead of VS2008 for this MFC project?