About MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) and ATL (ActiveX Template Libraries)

This book is primarily about using the Windows CE API functions, so most of the code is standard C code calling these functions. If you are writing an application using MFC, you will be able to call these functions in exactly the same way. However, there are times when MFC provides classes that make calling these functions easier and more efficient. For example, the Windows CE property databases can be programmed through direct API calls, but the MFC classes make writing database applications much easier. This book will show how to use MFC classes when appropriate.

Many developers are now writing components using ATL. This can be a difficult learning process, but the benefits are great. ATL is mainly based around writing and using COM components, although ATL can also be used to write applications. This book does not use ATL to any great extent, but as with MFC, the API calls and techniques can be incorporated into ATL applications and components.