How to Master COM with Inside COM by Dale Rogerson
Download Inside COM by Dale Rogerson: A Comprehensive Guide to Microsoft's Component Object Model
If you are a C++ programmer who wants to learn how to build elegant and powerful components using Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM), then you might be interested in downloading Inside COM by Dale Rogerson. This book is one of the best resources available for understanding and mastering COM, the foundation of OLE, ActiveX, and distributed computing. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this book, including what it covers, who wrote it, how to download it, and how to use it effectively.
download inside com by dale rogerson
What is COM and why should you learn it?
COM stands for Component Object Model, which is a binary standard for creating reusable software components that can interact with each other across processes and machines. COM enables you to design your software as a collection of independent and interoperable components, each with a well-defined interface and behavior. This way, you can achieve modularity, reusability, extensibility, and scalability in your software development.
The benefits of COM for programmers
There are many advantages of using COM for programmers, such as:
You can create components in any language that supports COM, such as C++, Visual Basic, Java, or C#.
You can use components created by other developers or vendors, without having to know their implementation details or source code.
You can expose your components to other applications or environments, such as scripting languages, web browsers, or office suites.
You can leverage existing technologies and frameworks based on COM, such as OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), ActiveX (ActiveX controls), DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model), or COM+ (COM services).
You can benefit from the built-in features of COM, such as reference counting (automatic memory management), marshaling (data conversion between different processes or machines), security (access control and authentication), or transactions (atomicity and consistency).
The challenges of COM for beginners
However, learning COM is not easy for beginners, because:
COM is a low-level binary standard that requires a lot of boilerplate code and manual work to implement.
COM is based on some complex concepts and mechanisms, such as interfaces (abstract contracts between components), GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers), vtables (virtual function tables), IUnknown (the base interface of all COM objects), QueryInterface (the method for obtaining interfaces from objects), HRESULTs (error codes), or apartments (threading models).
COM has a steep learning curve and a large scope that covers many topics and scenarios, such as custom interfaces (user-defined interfaces), automation interfaces (standardized interfaces for scripting languages), connection points (event handling), monikers (object naming), streams (object persistence), class factories (object creation), aggregations (object composition), or proxies and stubs (object communication).
Therefore, if you want to learn COM, you need a clear and simple, practical guide that can help you understand the basics and the details of COM, as well as a progressive and insightful view of COM design. And that's exactly what Inside COM by Dale Rogerson offers you.
What is Inside COM and who is Dale Rogerson?
Inside COM is a book published by Microsoft Press in 1997, as part of the Microsoft Programming Series. It is written by Dale Rogerson, a software engineer and consultant who has been working with COM since its inception. The book explains COM from the ground up, starting with a lucid overview of what COM is and what benefits it offers programmers, then delving into the details of its actual operation. The book also provides plenty of examples in the form of code snippets and diagrams, to illustrate the concepts and techniques of COM.
The content and structure of Inside COM
The book consists of 12 chapters and 3 appendices, covering the following topics:
Chapter
Title
Description
1
COM: An Overview
An introduction to the goals, principles, and architecture of COM.
2
The Essence of COM
A detailed explanation of the core concepts and mechanisms of COM, such as interfaces, GUIDs, vtables, IUnknown, QueryInterface, and HRESULTs.
3
Interfaces: The Building Blocks of COM
A discussion of how to design and implement custom interfaces and automation interfaces, using C++ and IDL (Interface Definition Language).
4
Objects: The Essence of Components
A demonstration of how to create and use COM objects, using class factories, aggregations, and CoCreateInstance.
5
Memory Management: Who Deletes What?
An exploration of how to manage memory in COM, using reference counting, smart pointers, and circular references.
6
Error Handling: What Went Wrong?An examination of how to handle errors in COM, using HRESULTs, exceptions, IErrorInfo, and ISupportErrorInfo.7Connection Points: How Do I Get Notified?An illustration of how to implement event handling in COM, using connection points, IConnectionPointContainer, IConnectionPoint, IEnumConnections, and IEnumConnectionPoints.8Persistence: How Do I Save My Data?An overview of how to persist data in COM, using streams, storages, IPersistStreamInit, IPersistStorage, IPersistFile, and OleSave.9Monikers: How Do I Name My Objects?An introduction to the naming scheme of COM objects, using monikers, IMoniker, IBindCtx, IRunningObjectTable, IPersistMoniker, and OleLoad.10In-Process Servers: How Do I Make My Objects Faster?A presentation of how to create and use in-process servers (DLLs) in COM, using DllGetClassObject, DllCanUnloadNow, DllRegisterServer, DllUnregisterServer, and Regsvr32.11Cross-Process Communication: How Do I Talk to Other Processes?A description of how to communicate between different processes or machines in COM, using marshaling, proxies, stubs, CoMarshalInterThreadInterfaceInStream, CoGetInterfaceAndReleaseStream, and CoRegisterClassObject.12Apartments: How Do I Handle Multiple Threads?A clarification of how to handle threading issues in COM, using apartments, CoInitialize, CoUninitialize, CoInitializeEx, and IMessageFilter.
The appendices provide additional information on:
The tools for working with COM, such as MIDL (Microsoft Interface Definition Language compiler), OLE/COM Object Viewer, OLE View, and RegMon.
The reference materials for COM, such as the header files, --- the type libraries, and the registry entries.
The answers to some frequently asked questions about COM, such as how to debug COM objects, how to use COM objects from Visual Basic or Java, how to use COM objects in web pages or Active Server Pages, and how to use COM objects on other platforms or languages.
The author's background and expertise
Dale Rogerson is a software engineer and consultant who has been working with COM since its inception. He has been involved in many projects that use COM for various purposes, such as multimedia, graphics, databases, networking, and distributed computing. He has also taught COM courses and seminars for Microsoft and other organizations. He has a deep understanding of the theory and practice of COM, as well as a clear and simple writing style that makes the book easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
How to download Inside COM by Dale Rogerson?
If you are interested in downloading Inside COM by Dale Rogerson, you have several options to choose from. Depending on your preferences and needs, you can download the book from the official sources or the alternative sources, and you can download it in different formats.
The official sources and formats of Inside COM
The official sources of Inside COM are the ones that are authorized by the publisher or the author. These sources usually offer the highest quality and reliability of the book, but they may also charge a fee or require a subscription. The official sources of Inside COM are:
Amazon: You can buy the paperback version of Inside COM from Amazon for $10.79. You can also buy the Kindle version of Inside COM from Amazon for $9.99. The Kindle version is a digital format that you can read on your Kindle device or app. You can also access some features of the Kindle version, such as highlighting, bookmarking, or searching.
Microsoft Press: You can buy the paperback version of Inside COM from Microsoft Press for $39.99. You can also buy the PDF version of Inside COM from Microsoft Press for $31.99. The PDF version is a digital format that you can read on your computer or mobile device. You can also print or copy some parts of the PDF version.
Internet Archive: You can borrow the paperback version of Inside COM from Internet Archive for free. You can also borrow the EPUB version of Inside COM from Internet Archive for free. The EPUB version is a digital format that you can read on your computer or mobile device. You can also download or stream some parts of the EPUB version.
The alternative sources and formats of Inside COM
The alternative sources of Inside COM are the ones that are not authorized by the publisher or the author. These sources usually offer lower quality and reliability of the book, but they may also offer free access or more variety. The alternative sources of Inside COM are:
PDF Drive: You can download the PDF version of Inside COM from PDF Drive for free. The PDF version is a digital format that you can read on your computer or mobile device. You can also print or copy some parts of the PDF version.
LibGen: You can download the PDF version or the DJVU version of Inside COM from LibGen for free. The DJVU version is a digital format that is similar to PDF but more compact and efficient. You can read it on your computer or mobile device using a DJVU reader.
BookZZ: You can download the PDF version or the DJVU version of Inside COM from BookZZ for free. BookZZ is another website that offers similar services as LibGen.
However, before you download Inside COM from any alternative source, you should be aware of some risks and issues, such as:
The quality and accuracy of the book may be compromised or corrupted by scanning errors, formatting issues, missing pages, or outdated information.
The legality and ethics of downloading the book may be questionable or problematic, as it may violate the copyright laws or the author's rights.
The security and safety of downloading the book may be dubious or dangerous, as it may expose your device or data to malware, viruses, spyware, or phishing.
Therefore, we recommend that you download Inside COM from an official source if possible, or at least use a reliable antivirus software and a VPN service when downloading from an alternative source.
How to use Inside COM by Dale Rogerson effectively?
Once you have downloaded Inside COM by Dale Rogerson, you may wonder how to use it effectively to learn and master COM. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of this book:
The prerequisites and recommendations for reading Inside COM
Before you start reading Inside COM, you should have some basic knowledge and skills in the following areas:
C++: You should be familiar with the syntax and semantics of C++, as well as some advanced features, such as pointers, references, classes, inheritance, polymorphism, templates, and exceptions. You should also be comfortable with using a C++ compiler and debugger.
Windows: You should be familiar with the basics of Windows programming, such as the Win32 API, the message loop, the window class, the window procedure, the GDI (Graphics Device Interface), and the registry. You should also be comfortable with using a Windows development environment, such as Visual Studio.
COM: You should have a general idea of what COM is and what it can do, as well as some common terms and concepts, such as components, objects, interfaces, GUIDs, vtables, IUnknown, QueryInterface, HRESULTs, or apartments. You can get this information from the first chapter of Inside COM or from other introductory sources.
While reading Inside COM, you should also follow some recommendations to enhance your learning experience, such as:
Read the book in order: The book is organized in a logical and progressive way, from the simplest to the most complex topics. Each chapter builds on the previous ones and introduces new concepts and techniques gradually. Therefore, you should read the book from the beginning to the end, without skipping or jumping ahead.
Read the book carefully: The book is written in a clear and simple style, but it also contains a lot of details and nuances that are essential for understanding COM. Therefore, you should read the book carefully and attentively, without skimming or rushing. You should also pay attention to the code snippets and diagrams that illustrate the concepts and techniques of COM.
Read the book actively: The book is not meant to be a passive reference or a boring textbook. It is meant to be an active guide and a stimulating resource. Therefore, you should read the book actively and interactively, without being passive or bored. You should also ask questions, take notes, make summaries, do exercises, or try examples while reading the book.
The tips and tricks for applying Inside COM concepts and examples
After you finish reading Inside COM, you may want to apply what you have learned to your own projects or scenarios. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you use Inside COM concepts and examples effectively:
Use the tools for working with COM: The book provides a list of tools that can help you create, debug, view, or register COM components. These tools include MIDL (Microsoft Interface Definition Language compiler), OLE/COM Object Viewer (a graphical tool for browsing COM objects), OLE View (a graphical tool for viewing type libraries), Regsvr32 (a command-line tool for registering DLLs), or RegMon (a monitoring tool for registry activities). You should use these tools whenever you need to work with COM components.
Use the reference materials for COM: The book provides a list of reference materials that can help you find more information or details about COM. These reference materials include the header files (the C++ definitions of COM interfaces and structures), the libraries (the binary implementations of COM interfaces and functions), the type libraries (the binary descriptions of COM interfaces and methods), and the registry entries (the configuration data of COM components). You should use these reference materials whenever you need to look up something about COM.
Use the answers to frequently asked questions about COM: The book provides a list of answers to some frequently asked questions about COM. These questions cover some common or advanced topics or scenarios that involve using COM objects from different languages or environments. You should use these answers whenever you encounter a problem or a challenge with COM.
Conclusion
In this article, we have given you a comprehensive guide to downloading Inside COM by Dale Rogerson. We have explained what is COM and why you should learn it; what is Inside COM and who is Dale Rogerson; how to download Inside COM from official or alternative sources; and how to use Inside COM effectively. We hope that this article has helped you find and enjoy this excellent book on Microsoft's Component Object Model.
A summary of the main points of the article
Here are the main points of this article:
--- COM is a binary standard for creating reusable software components that can interact with each other across processes and machines.
Inside COM is a book by Dale Rogerson that explains COM from the ground up, with clear and simple examples and diagrams.
You can download Inside COM from official sources, such as Amazon, Microsoft Press, or Internet Archive, or from alternative sources, such as PDF Drive, LibGen, or BookZZ.
You can use Inside COM effectively by reading it in order, carefully, and actively; and by using the tools, reference materials, and answers provided by the book.
A call to action for the readers
If you are interested in learning and mastering COM, we highly recommend that you download Inside COM by Dale Rogerson and read it thoroughly. This book will give you a solid foundation and a deep insight into COM, as well as a practical guide and a stimulating resource for your own projects. You can download Inside COM from any of the sources mentioned above, or you can click on the link below to get it directly from Amazon. Happy reading!
Download Inside COM by Dale Rogerson from Amazon
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about downloading Inside COM by Dale Rogerson:
Q: Is Inside COM still relevant in 2023?
A: Yes, Inside COM is still relevant in 2023, because COM is still widely used and supported by Microsoft and other developers. COM is the basis of many technologies and frameworks that are essential for Windows programming, such as OLE, ActiveX, DCOM, COM+, ATL (Active Template Library), MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class Library), or .NET (through COM Interop). Moreover, COM is also available on other platforms or languages, such as UNIX, MVS, Java, or Python (through COM bridges). Therefore, learning COM is still valuable and beneficial for any programmer who wants to create elegant and powerful components.
Q: How long does it take to read Inside COM?
A: It depends on your reading speed and comprehension level, but on average, it takes about 20 hours to read Inside COM. The book has 416 pages and 12 chapters, each with about 35 pages. If you read at a moderate pace of 250 words per minute and understand 80% of what you read, you can finish one chapter in about 100 minutes. Therefore, you can finish the whole book in about 1200 minutes or 20 hours. Of course, this is just an estimate and you may need more or less time depending on your background and interest.
Q: What are some other books that are similar to Inside COM?
A: There are some other books that are similar to Inside COM in terms of content or style. Some of them are:
Essential COM by Don Box: This book is another classic and authoritative book on COM that covers the same topics as Inside COM but with more depth and rigor. It is suitable for advanced readers who want to learn the theory and practice of COM in detail.
ATL Internals by Brent Rector and Chris Sells: This book is a comprehensive and practical book on ATL (Active Template Library), which is a set of C++ templates and tools that simplify the creation of COM components. It is suitable for intermediate t