A few suggestions and ideas
-
Hi Walter >What would you look for in an alternative to MFC? How about another version of MFC? Ok I like MFC, or most days that is. >If Microsoft had another C++ framework, would you expect any of your MFC code, or MFC knowledge, to be carried >forward into an alternative? You are making me a bit nervous here (not meant seriously) . If I had to get a new license whenever BMW released a new version of my favorite car I would be forever learning how to drive a new car. So yes I would like to see a "new" framework build on my previous knowledge. If the "new" framework differs for a good reason and your documentation explains why I would probably concede and get down to learn the new stuff. >What features of MFC would you most want to be included in a new framework? Scanning up and down the hierarchy chart on my wall, how about all of it? I probably don't use a third of those classes regularly but I might want to in the future. The most important feature to me is flexibility. I absolutely hate painting myself into a corner. I hate it even more if a framework starts me off in a corner. > Do you care about Doc/View? Yes I do even though I use it non regularly. It helps to abstract the data from the display. > Do you care about ODBC data access? Yes > Do you care about ActiveX Control containment or creation? Yes >What in MFC could be fixed so that you didn't think you needed an alternative? Adding more classes that not just wrap the functionality of some things but also create new functionalities. Adding some more classes eg: registry wrapper class, two cool classes I found on the net is CAutoFont and CMemDC. Wrote my own FILETIME wrapper class called CFileTime, I'm yet to post it. Prefer it to using CTime because runs into problems sometime in the next 20 years or so and CTime is only accurate to a second. I am sure there are more out there. >Not sexy enough? Sexy for me in a framework is a synonym for consistent and easy to use. >It doesn't have the UI, or features you need? Have a look around this site (I suppose you guys are already doing it). There are lots of good ideas and tips how to do things. www.codeguru.com also has a bunch of good ones. If you know of more let us know. I am already MFC, ATL pregnant no stopping it now. Here is list of goals that a Windows OO framework must adhere to in my opinion: 1) It must be simple to use. 2) It must be consistent in the way things are done. I think MFC is great example here. 3) It must be generic and