Visual C++ Project Types
You can use a project template to create the basic program structure, menus, toolbars, icons, references, and #include statements that are appropriate for the kind of project you want to create. Visual Studio includes several kinds of Visual C++ project templates and provides wizards for many of them so that you can customize your projects as you create them. Immediately after you create a project, you can build it and run the application—it's good practice to build intermittently as you develop your application.
You don't have to use a template to create a project, but in most cases it's more efficient to do so because it's easier to modify the provided project files and structure than it is to create them from scratch.
Note
You can create a C-language project by using C++ project templates. In the generated project, locate files that have a .cpp file name extension and change it to .c. Then, on the Project Properties page for the project (not for the solution), expand Configuration Properties, C/C++ and select Advanced. Change the Compile As setting to Compile as C Code (/TC).
Project Templates
Visual Studio the following Visual C++ project templates.
Store Apps
ATL
Project template |
How to create a project |
|---|---|
ATL Project |
CLR
Project template |
|---|
General
Project template |
How to create a project |
|---|---|
Empty Project |
|
Custom Wizard |
|
Makefile Project |
MFC
Project template |
How to create a project |
|---|---|
MFC ActiveX Control |
|
MFC Application |
|
MFC DLL |
Test
Project template |
How to create a project |
|---|---|
Managed Test Project |
|
Native Unit Test Project |
Win32
Project template |
How to create a project |
|---|---|
Win32 Console Project |
|
Win32 Project |
TODO Comments
Many of the files generated by a project template contain TODO comments to help you identify where you can provide your own source code. For more information about how to add code, see Adding Functionality with Code Wizards and Working with Resource Files.
See Also
Reference
Files Created for CLR Projects