Microsoft Visual C++/cli step by Step

Compiling the source files

The C++/CLI compiler is the tool for converting text source files into something that can be executed 

by a computer processor. The compiler takes your source files (which usually have a .cpp extension) 

and builds them into either a stand-alone executable file (with a .exe extension) or a library file to be 

used in other projects (with a .dll extension).

Standard C++ and C

If you have ever worked with standard C++ or C, you might be familiar with the idea of compil-

ing to object files and then linking with libraries to build the final executable file—which is 

commonly referred to simply as an executable. Although you can compile to the equivalent of 

an object file (called a module in the .NET world) and then link those together by using a tool 

called the assembly linker, Visual Studio takes you straight from source to executable without 

you seeing the intermediate step.

[[Eds: Please check through-

out book to ensure “Visual 

Studio .NET” has been replaced 

by “Visual Studio 2012” -- it has 

been replaced in the preceding 

paragraph.]]

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