The Windows API (Application Programming Interface) is used in the development of desktop and server applications and is commonly referred to as Win32. The Win32 interface comprises an extensive collection of system-defined functions and other programming elements that provide access to the operating system. These API functions are contained in Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs), which a program must access when it is executed. All Windows programs must interact with the Windows API, regardless of the programming language used. The API is implemented primarily in C and C++. The Win32 API is the platform of choice for GUI applications that require the highest level of performance and direct access to system hardware.
The Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) library consists of a hierarchical structure of classes, functions, data types, and constants designed to simplify the creation of applications for Microsoft Windows.
MFC was introduced in 1992 and was developed to simplify the process of Windows application development. The MFC library sits on top of, or wraps, portions of the Windows API in C++ classes, meaning that direct Windows API calls are rarely required. Developers can create objects from these MFC classes and call member functions belonging to those objects. The main advantage of this approach is the ease and speed of application development, achieved by providing pre-written code. MFC also offers the benefits normally associated with programming in C++.
The .NET Framework is a more recent software framework developed by Microsoft for creating Windows applications. It comprises an extensive class library and, in contrast to MFC, supports multiple programming languages such as Visual Basic and C#. Programs written for the .NET Framework are executed in a virtual software environment, rather than directly on hardware, known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR provides managed execution by transforming source code into an intermediate bytecode known as Common Intermediate Language (CIL), and it performs services such as garbage collection and memory management. In addition to language interoperability, applications built on the .NET Framework can run on any compatible Windows platform.
Although the Windows API is built around the C language, it can be utilized by any language or compiler capable of handling the required low-level data structures and calling conventions for function calls and callbacks.
Compiler Support: The Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the tools, compilers, headers, and libraries that developers need to create applications that run on Microsoft Windows. To develop software that accesses the Windows API, a compiler must be capable of utilizing Microsoft-specific libraries
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