1.) Why most functions are named in lower case? Convention of the last 20 years (about). Functions are lower case, DEFINE macros are upper case. Changing case within words make typing slower. Nowadays, some of the programming editors can help You with auomatic completion, but not all. 2.) Why the extensive use of shorts such as printf(),instead of PrintFormat()? PrintFormat looks like a PASCAL or BASIC (I apologise for these rude words in a c++ forum) procedure to configure Your printer. printf is a standard C library function, maybe its older than some programmers. BTW, do You like typing? 3.) Why do we need something like HWND, HINSTANCE, instead of a simple int? Of course, You're right. But please tell this to Microsoft. Because Microsoft prefers their own "programming language", Visual Basic, so they would like to make programmers to hate C++. 4.) How could someone possiblily learn ... See the answer above. You can make your own decision. You can use Microsoft preferred technology, or You can use some open source/commercial libraries to make c++ programming easier. BTW, Microsoft technology to separate resource editing and coding, makes modifying and team working a bit easier. 4,5.) ... without win32 api? If You write a program to run on Windows, You always use win32 api, even if You don't know about it. Sometimes api is simpler or more efficient than using MFC, but only if You know it. I hope, my answers will help You in the way of becoming a C++ master.