ISBN:1572318589Amazon.com
Written for readers with knowledge of C++, Inside ATL surveys the strengths of today's Active Template Library (ATL), used for creating lightweight, high-performance COM components on Windows. This book provides an excellent guide to ATL programming while introducing all its features, both for client- and server-side development.
One of the best features of Inside ATL is its thorough coverage of using (and understanding) the wizard-generated code in Visual C++. The authors describe each of the choices developers face when running these wizards, as well as examining and modifying the generated boilerplate code. (You'll find good detail on the various threading options available with ATL components.) The book also provides an excellent discussion of smart pointers and C++ templates to explain how ATL works by analogy. Another notable section is the full treatment of using ATL to build efficient client-side ActiveX components. (This last chapter alone will justify the cost of the book for many readers.)
Instead of long coding examples, Inside ATL is filled with shorter excerpts used to illustrate essential COM topics effectively. A complete example shows how to use ATL for efficient client-side ActiveX components, including using property pages and events. The book also covers ATL support classes available for both client-side and server-side programming, and it illustrates the use of ATL in writing Windows applications. A final section on Windows 2000 and COM+ looks at the future of ATL in the enterprise.
With the solid knowledge of two experts from the field of component development, Inside ATL does a fine job of exposing the most important inner workings of ATL. Its mix of savvy detail and thorough introduction to virtually every capability of ATL will allow this book to fill a critical niche for every C++ developer. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: COM basics, smart pointers, ATL wizards, threading apartment models, COM servers and client-side components, aggregation, wizards, building ActiveX controls, ATL window classes and collections, and COM+./p>
Reviews From AMAZON.COM
A reference book that would be ok to keep
First of all, this book wouldn't teach you anything from ground-up. Also, it doesn't go into much detail. If you are already familiar with COM/ATL, it will probably make a good reference book that you can use to brush up. Buy it, only you have extra money lying around and really wanna get an additional COM book. For new readers, Troelsen's COM ATL Workshop is a God-send.
Solid ATL book if you have other reference books
Excellent book for readers yearning a stronger understanding of ATL and COM. The auther does a concise job of explaining some of the more difficult or less well understood aspects of COM - APARTMENTS and THREADS.
Apartments and threads, in most other COM books are often inadequete and rushed - not this book. The level of detail to apartments and threads can easily make this book worth buying all together, not to say, that the rest of the book isn't worth reading because it is.
Although, they did a wonderful job of explaining threads and apartments this book isn't without its challenges. For example, to understand many of the code samples you must have some Windows 32 programming experience or be familiar with some of the Win32 API calls and libraries. Make sure you have a Windows 32 programming book as reference (e.g. Advanced Windows by Jeffrey Richter).
Furthermore, I can understand how some readers may be intimidated by this book because they might not be as comfortable working with C++, templates, macros and the Win32 API...typical in most hardcore COM books I have read. However, don't let that stop you from reading this book. Just make sure that you purchase the necessary reference books to bring yourself up to speed.
So, if you want to understand the internals of "ATL" and "COM", do yourself a favor and buy this book. It should have an excellent shelf life, unlike some of the other COM books I've purchased, such as "Beginning ATL COM" from Wrox (save your money on this book).
Over the years I've come to rely upon a few trusted books on COM and Win32 programming and have provided them below:
COM:
- Essential COM by Don Box (COM primer)
- Inside COM by Dale Rogerson (COM primer)
WIN 32 PROGRAMMING:
- Advanced Windows by Jeffrey Richter (good advanced topics...threading, kernal, locking)
- Programming Windows by Charles Petzold (good all-around ref.)
- Learn Windows Programming in 21 days (excellent primer!)