C++/CLI: The Visual C++ Language for .NET / Edition 1

by Gordon Hogenson

Overview

C++/CLI: The Visual C++ Language for .NET introduces Microsoft’s extensions to the C++ syntax that allow you to target the common language runtime the key to the heart of the .NET 3.0 platform. In 12 no-fluff chapters, Microsoft insider Gordon Hogenson takes you into the core of the C++/CLI language and explains both how the language elements work and how Microsoft intends them to be used. Compilable code samples illustrate the syntax as simply as possible, and more elaborate code samples show how the new syntax might typically be used.

The book is a beginner’s guide, but it assumes a familiarity with programming basics. And it concentrates on explaining the aspects of C++/CLI that make it the most powerful and fun language on the .NET Framework 3.0. As such, this book is ideal if you’re thinking of migrating to C++/CLI from another language. By the end of this book, you’ll have a thorough grounding in the core language elements together with the confidence to explore further that comes from a solid understanding of a languages syntax and grammar.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590597057
Publisher:	Apress
Publication date:	12/08/2006
Series:	The Expert's Voice in .NET Series
Edition description:	1st ed.
Pages:	414
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Gordon Hogenson is the manager responsible for the Visual C++ documentation, has worked as a technical writer and testing engineer for Visual C++, C# and other Microsoft products for nine years. He has avid interests in many diverse fields, including botany and organic gardening, chemistry, physics, metaphysics and philosophy.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Stanley B. Lippman     xv
Foreword   Herb Sutter     xvii
About the Author     xxv
About the Technical Reviewer     xxvii
Acknowledgments     xxix
Introduction     xxxi
Introducing C++/CLI     1
Garbage Collection and Handles     1
The /clr Compiler Option     3
The Virtual Machine     3
The Common Type System     3
Reference Types and Value Types     4
The CLI and the .NET Framework     5
"Hello, World"     5
Summary     10
A Quick Tour of the C++/CLI Language Features     11
Primitive Types     11
Aggregate Types     12
Reference Classes     14
Value Classes     15
Enumeration Classes     17
Interface Classes     19
Elements Modeling the "has-a" Relationship     21
Properties     21
Delegates and Events     23
Generics     27
Summary     28
Building C++/CLI Programs for the .NET Developer Platform with Visual C++     29
Targeting the .NET Developer Platform with Visual C++2005     29
Visual C++ 2005 Compilation Modes     30
Safe Mode (/clr:safe Compiler Option)     30
Pure Mode (/clr:pure Compiler Option)     30
Mixed Mode (/clr Compiler Option)     31
Managed Extensions Syntax (/clr:oldSyntax Compiler Option)     32
None of the Above     32
Caveats When Upgrading Code to Visual C++ 2005     32
Architecture Dependence and 64-bit Programming     32
Assemblies and Modules     33
The Assembly Manifest     33
Viewing Metadata with ILDasm.exe     34
The #using Directive     37
Referencing Assemblies and Access Control     39
Friend Assemblies     39
Assembly Attributes     40
The Linker and the Assembly Linker     40
Resources and Assemblies     41
Signed Assemblies     41
Multifile Assemblies     41
Summary     41
Object Semantics in C++/CLI     43
Object Semantics for Reference Types     43
Object Semantics for Value Types     44
Implications of the Unified Type System     44
Implicit Boxing and Unboxing     45
Stack vs. Heap Semantics      47
Pitfalls of Delete and Stack Semantics     51
The Unary % Operator and Tracking References     52
Dereferencing Handles     54
Copy Constructors     55
Lvalues, GC-Ivalues, Rvalues, and GC-rvalues     56
auto_handle     58
Parameter Passing     60
Passing Reference Types by Value     63
Passing Value Types by Reference     65
Temporary Handles     66
Passing Value Types As Handles     68
Summary of Parameter-Passing Semantics     70
Do's and Don'ts of Returning Values     70
Summary     73
Fundamental Types: Strings, Arrays, and Enums     75
Strings     75
String Operators     79
Comparing Strings     80
Formatting Strings     81
Numeric String Formatting     82
StringBuilder     84
Conversions Between Strings and Other Data Types     85
Input/Output     86
Basic Output     86
Out, Error, and In     87
Basic Input with Console::ReadLine     87
Reading and Writing Files     87
Reading and Writing Strings      89
System::String and Other I/O Systems     90
Arrays     92
Initializing     93
Array Length     95
Navigating Arrays     97
Differences Between Native and Managed Arrays     100
Arrays As Parameters     101
Copying an Array     102
Managed Array Class Members     103
Array Equality     106
Parameter Arrays     107
Arrays in Classes     108
Beyond Arrays: ArrayList     108
Enumerated Types     110
The Enum Class     111
Enumerated Types and Conversions     112
The Underlying Type of an Enum     112
The Flags Attribute     113
Enum Values As Strings     114
Summary     116
Classes and Structs     117
Constructors and Initialization     118
Static Constructors     119
Copy Constructors for Reference and Value Types     121
Literal Fields     121
initonly Fields     124
Const Correctness     126
Properties, Events, and Operators     127
Example: A Scrabble Game     127
The this Pointer      153
Access Levels for Classes     156
Native and Managed Classes     157
Using a Native Object in a Managed Type     157
Class Destruction and Cleanup     160
Finalizers     161
Pitfalls of Finalizers     168
Summary     171
Features of a .NET Class     173
Properties     173
Using Indexed Properties     177
Delegates and Events     184
Asynchronous Delegates     188
Events     191
Event Receivers and Senders     199
Using the EventArgs Class     201
Reserved Names     203
Operator Overloading     203
Static Operators     203
Conversion Operators and Casts     206
Summary     210
Inheritance     211
Name Collisions in Inheritance Hierarchies     212
Using the new Keyword on Virtual Functions     214
Using the override Keyword on Virtual Methods     215
Abstract Classes     219
Sealed Classes     220
Abstract and Sealed     221
Virtual Properties     222
Special Member Functions and Inheritance      225
Constructors     226
Virtual Functions in the Constructor     228
Destructors and Inheritance     231
Finalizers and Inheritance     232
Casting in Inheritance Hierarchies     233
Summary     234
Interfaces     235
Interfaces vs. Abstract Classes     235
Declaring Interfaces     236
Interfaces Implementing Other Interfaces     237
Interfaces with Properties and Events     240
Interface Name Collisions     240
Interfaces and Access Control     244
Interfaces and Static Members     245
Literals in Interfaces     246
Commonly Used .NET Framework Interfaces     246
IComparable     246
IEnumerable and IEnumerator     248
Interfaces and Dynamically Loaded Types     255
Summary     257
Exceptions, Attributes, and Reflection     259
Exceptions     259
The Exception Hierarchy     260
What's in an Exception?     260
Creating Exception Classes     262
Using the Finally Block     263
Dealing with Exceptions in Constructors     265
Throwing Nonexception Types     266
Unsupported Features     268
Exception-Handling Best Practices     268
Exceptions and Errors from Native Code     269
Attributes     270
How Attributes Work     270
The Attribute Class     271
Attribute Parameters     271
Some Useful Attributes     271
Assembly and Module Attributes     276
Creating Your Own Attributes     277
Reflection     279
Application Domains     283
Summary     284
Parameterized Functions and Types     285
Generics     285
Type Parameters     285
Generic Functions     286
Generic Types     288
Generic Collections     290
Using Constraints     296
Interface Constraints     296
Class Constraints     297
Reference Types and Value Types As Type Parameters     298
The gcnew Constraint     300
Value Type Constraints     301
Reference Type Constraints     303
Multiple Constraints     303
.NET Framework Container Types     304
Generic vs. Nongeneric Container Classes     304
Using the Collection Class Interfaces     305
ArrayList     305
Dictionaries     308
Managed Templates     309
Summary     316
Interoperability     317
The Many Faces of Interop     317
Interoperating with Other .NET Languages     319
Using Native Libraries with Platform Invoke     322
Data Marshaling     327
Interop with COM     328
Using Native Libraries Without P/Invoke     329
Recompiling a Native Library As Managed Code     332
Interior Pointers     339
Pinning Pointers     340
Native Objects and Managed Objects     341
Using a Managed Object in a Native Class     342
Using a Native Object in a Managed Type     343
Native and Managed Entry Points     347
How to Avoid Double Thunking     348
Managed and Native Exceptions     348
Interop with Structured Exceptions (__try/__except)     348
Interop with Win32 Error Codes     351
Interop with C++ Exceptions     352
Interop with COM HRESULTs     354
Summary     354
Quick Reference      355
Keywords and Contextual Keywords     355
Whitespaced Keywords     356
Keywords As Identifiers     357
Detecting CLR Compilation     358
XML Documentation     359
Summary of Compilation Modes     362
Syntax Summary     363
Index     377