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This is exactly how I've learned to create my first Windows programs about 30 years ago, except that I'd use a C++ compiler.

I am not sure why but I believe writing C style code with a C++ compiler was how the windows API was documented to be used. I think Microsoft just went with the idea that C++ was an improved superset of C so should be used even for C-style code.

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> I think Microsoft just went with the idea that C++ was an improved superset of C so should be used even for C-style code.

And as a consequence, for a long time their official C compiler was stuck on C89, while other platforms already had full C99 support and beyond. I believe their support for newer C standards has gotten better since then, but AFAIK they still don't have full C99 support.

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