The COM and COM+ Programming Primer

COM and COM+ are the foundation of virtually every new technology Microsoft is developing, and COM+ is an essential feature of Microsoft's Win 32 platform (and, therefore, a cornerstone of Windows 2000). COM and COM+ have a reputation for being extremely difficult to learn -- but it doesn't have to be that way. The COM and COM+ Programming Primerteaches both technologies from scratch-- step-by-step, using on-target analogies, simple example programs, and an "inside-out" teaching method that makes sure readers really understand before introducing shortcuts such as Microsoft's wizards. Alan Gordon starts with crystal-clear definitions of every Microsoft technology related to COM, including ActiveX, OLE, DCOM, DNA, and COM+. Understand the fundamental classes, objects, and interfaces associated with COM. Next, build your first COM object, and simplify it using ATL 3.0 and Visual C++ Native COM support. In Section II, dig deeper into COM: create an out-of-process server; understand Automation; work with COM callbacks and connectable objects; master threading; and review the additional distributed development features Microsoft introduced with DCOM. Next, understand the key distributed technologies that set the stage for COM+: Windows DNA, the Microsoft Transaction Server, and MSMQ. Finally, in four practical, hands-on chapters, you'll start working with COM+ in the Windows 2000 environment: creating objects, working with threading, even building full-fledged n-tier applications.