how to create c++ programs without the requirement of .net framework to run (like ccleaner and utorrent)

Question

i was wondering how programs like ccleaner and utorrent are made? AFAIK they are written in C++ but they run without the need of .net framework and apparently run on windows 98 as well. How can this be done? Visual c++ requires .net framework to be installed to run the binary file.

While .net framework is free, it can be a hassle and it would probably turn many users away as the setup is 20MB+ and installs several files/registry entries.

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 26 '10 at 12:30

Visual c++ requires .net framework to be installed to run the binary file.

No, it does not. In fact, C++ and the .NET framework are highly unrelated. You only need the .NET framework if your application is written in C++/CLI, which is far away from regular C++.

If you develop an application in standard C++, you don't need the .NET framework, just the runtime shipped with your toolchain (Visual C++, mingw, whatever). In some cases you can also link to the runtime statically, so you don't even need to distribute DLLs etc.

As for creating GUIs in regular C++, there are toolkits out there. Microsoft offers the bare Windows API, MFC, WTL and there are 3rd party products, like Qt or wxWidgets

Thanks for the reply, the toolkits tip should come in handy. — luq, Sep 28 '10 at 13:21

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 26 '10 at 12:30

4

Create native C++ project, without using CLI. In VC++ Application Wizard you can select any type, except of CLI.

Native C++ project has its own runtime requirements: C/C++ runtime, MFC runtime (if MFC is used), but .NET Framework is not required.

answered Sep 26 '10 at 12:30

Alex F

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Don't you mean [CLR](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/6765tta0.aspx) project type? – Scott Solmer Sep 08 '14 at 20:08

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 26 '10 at 12:30

4

When creating the project, set it up as a Win32 project, not a CLR project. That will ensure that you're compiling against the C++ standard rather than the managed C++ variant used for .Net.

answered Sep 26 '10 at 12:30

andand

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Thanks for the feedback. I did try creating a win32 project but it is a lot less straight forward than creating a forms application (which requires .net framework). Forms applications are what I'm familiar with so maybe i'll give it another shot. – luq Sep 28 '10 at 12:54
@luq: You've just discovered one of the reasons that .Net is popular. You might want to check out Qt (http://qt.nokia.com ... the LGPL version is free) which offers a library of cross-platform UI tools for standard C++ (i.e. not .Net). It can be used with Visual Studio 2010 or you can use Qt Creator which is a full IDE for C++ development using Qt. – andand Sep 28 '10 at 13:09

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

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It's important to understand the difference between native and managed code on Windows. There is basic discussion of that topic on SO here and a deeper dive from a Microsoft person here.

Your concern about taking a dependency on .Net Framework may be out of date - new PCs would have it installed by default since Vista and Windows 7 include it, and many older ones will have it due to existing .Net apps or via Automatic Update from Microsoft - there is some info on .Net version relative penetration rates here.

That said, I would not choose C++/CLI unless you have native/managed code interop requirements - use C++ for native and C# for managed code.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

Community

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answered Sep 26 '10 at 13:22

Steve Townsend

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Thanks for the feedback. My main concern is that a good percentage of end users would not have .net framework installed and having to install a 20+MB file to run a considerably smaller application isn't exactly convenient. I'll take a look at the links provided as well since I haven't exactly wrapped my head around the concepts of native and managed code. – luq Sep 28 '10 at 12:55

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 29 '10 at 01:21

In my opinion .NET framework gives you only high production speed otherwise i hate it.

Use .Net when:

1 - You want speed production

2 - You already program with a team that use .Net

3 - You want portability(only between windows and supporting systems)

Use normal/native win32 programming when:

1 - wants more freedom

2 - wants more control over the system and the program u write

3 - have excess time

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 20 '20 at 21:25

You can create Win32 applications and also MFC ones with no .NET installed nor required. I have been doing so for years. Such application will not require any pre-installation so running it won't require any Setup.exe but just double clicking the .exe. See also this question.

how to create c++ programs without the requirement of .net framework to run (like ccleaner and utorrent)

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