A Win32 Console Class Library

The Console Class Library, Version 2 (CCL2) is an easy to use C++ class that provides many useful routines to increase the functionality and embellishment of Win32 console-mode applications. Although CCL2 was designed primarily as a teaching tool for beginning C++ programmers, it is robust and complete enough to be useful for console-mode industrial-type applications. CCL2 was written and tested with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0/7.0 and is intended to provide console-mode support for Win32 console-mode applications developed in Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0/7.0 and run on Windows 98/XP. CCL2 is currently used in the C++ programming curriculum in the Computer Engineering Technology Department at the University of Memphis. The class library is used to introduce students to multiple source files, basic object-oriented terminology and concepts, and ready-touse class methods that improve and embellish Win32 console-mode application development. Because CCL2 can “supercharge” console-mode applications, it is a good choice for those instructors who wish to teach basic C/C++ programming concepts and techniques within a console-mode application environment rather than a Windows application environment. CCL2 is a great teaching tool because it acts as a bridge between traditional non-GUI programming techniques and more advanced GUI programming techniques that most students will eventually encounter in advanced programming courses. With this library, students can quickly incorporate color, mouse input, and graphics boxes and menus into their console-mode applications while slowly being introduced to basic object-oriented terminology and design. The simplicity of the library (it does not incorporate overloaded operators, inheritance, or polymorphism) makes it a wonderful teaching tool for beginning C++ students as they learn about classes, constructors, destructors, member functions, default arguments, public and private access specifiers, static data members, namespaces, and common Win32 Console API functions all within the context of a “real-world” C++ class library.