Hi, I am just beginning to learn

[gonzilla]

Hi,

I am just beginning to learn the Windows API and I have use MS VC++ for my C++ programs. I'd like to use MS VC++ while I am learning the API and I have read somewhere that MS includes a bunch of junk that I don't need....that I should use an SDK. I know SDK stands for "Software Development Kit" but I'm not exactly sure what it is or if I need to obtain this from somewhere - it seems as though there may be a lot of them to choose from. Is one included with MS VC++ is that just MFC?

Thanks.

-Tyler

 

[mirr2001]

The SDK is the basic thing you need to write windows applications. An SDK is a set of headers and DLLs in mostly combined with a help system.
Along with VC++ you get the platform SDK for simple windows programming (with Visual Studio.NET you also get the DirectX 8 SDK). If you e.g. want to program DirectX applications (games) you need to download the DirectX SDK from the microsoft website (for free). Typically this will be the only "extra" SDK you propably will need.