Charles Petzold: FAQ

Q.	Will there be a 6^th edition of Programming Windows?
A.	There are no plans at this time for a 6^th edition of Programming Windows. The subject of Programming Windows is the basic 32-bit Windows Application Programming Interface (Win32 API). That API has remained stable for about the past 10 years. The sample programs in the 5^th edition of Programming Windows run fine under Windows XP and are expected to run fine under future versions of Windows.

Q.	But what about reviewers on amazon.com who say "Wait for the 6^th edition"?
A.	I'm sorry, but they really don't know what they're talking about, particularly if they imply that the 6^th edition will cover "Avalon" or "WinFX" (the programming interface for the version of Windows codenamed Longhorn expected in 2006). I will be writing a book about Avalon (see my MSDN Magaaine article Code Name Avalon: Create Real Apps Using New Code and Markup Model for a preview) but it will not be the 6^th edition of Programming Windows. There are no plans for a 6^th edition of Programming Windows.

Q.	I've lost the CD-ROM that came with my book. Where can I get another?
A.	If the book is out of print, you can download the companion content from the Books page of this web site. For books that are currently published by Microsoft Press, the companion content must be obtained from the publisher. For Programming Windows, 5^th edition, and Programming Microsoft Windows with C# (both of which came with CD-ROMs), you can contact Microsoft Press at mspinput@microsoft.com. For Programming Microsoft Windows with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Programming in the Key of C#, you can download companion content from the Microsoft Press web site. The Books page of my web site has the links you'll need.

Q.	There are so many ways to write Windows programs these days. There's the API, there's MFC, and now there's .NET and Windows Forms, and in a couple years Avalon is coming out. What should I use?
A.	I can't answer that question for you. The programming interface you chose must be based on many factors, including the programming resources you have, and your target audience. However, it is very clear that the world needs to be moving in the direction of managed code, and that's where the world seems to be going. Exploring Microsoft .NET now (including learning C# and Windows Forms) puts you in an excellent position to take on WinFX (also known as Avalon) when it becomes available.

Q.	Can I email you a technical question?
A.	Yes, but I'm afraid I can't guarantee an adequate response. Often if an immediate answer doesn't come to mind, I ponder the question for awhile until the email slips further down into the Inbox stack and I forget about it. A few guidelines that may help you get a response: I receive well over a hundred pieces of spam a day. Try to use a Subject line that mentions Windows programming. I am likely to delete email with a blank Subject line, or Subject lines of "Hi" or "Question" or "From Fred." Your question should be on a subject that I've written about, specifically, Windows API programming, C#, or Windows Forms. I don't feel qualified or inclined to answer questions about MFC, ASP, etc. Try to ask just one question rather than a series of questions. If you're sending code, make it as short as possible. (This is a good idea anyway if you're trying to isolate a problem.) Including a Visual Studio project file is helpful. Don't send EXEs.

Q.	Is that a real tattoo?
A.	I think of it more as a scar I got after doing Windows programming for ten years (beginning in 1985).

Frequently Asked Questions