Question

MFC CSocket vs. thread + CAsyncSocket

Asked by: ShawnCurry

I am designing a server for networked card games with MFC.  The server consists of a heirarchy of "servlets": each room will exist on a separate process, with a separate server socket, and an incoming and outgoing message queue.  Each room consists of several tables, which may also be described this way.

Therefore, my abstraction contains a "ServerThread", which manages a (server) CAsyncSocket, toggling non-blocking IO when appropriate.  The server thread would also pump messages to and from client sockets, and ocasionally respond to client messages.  I am debating whether to also use CAsyncSockets for client sockets.  It would obviously be difficult to manage the IO state for all client sockets.  I think it would be much simpler to have a "ClientThread", which would use an ASyncSocket that always blocks (not sure if it would actually work otherwise).  Is it worth it, or should I just use plain CSockets?

It should be noted that this server thread does not need a Windows message pump, as it only responds to socket messages.

Also, are there any good open-source MFC compatible ThreadPools and/or SocketPools out there?

Thanks,

Shawn Curry

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Asked On
2005-03-25 at 23:42:38ID21365330
Tags

casyncsocket

,

csocket

,

mfc

,

thread

Topics

Windows MFC Programming

,

Microsoft Programming

Participating Experts
2
Points
350
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: AlexFMPosted on 2005-03-26 at 05:23:57ID: 13636061

CSocket class is not used in professional programs. Since this class is synchronous, it is used mostly by beginner programmers giving them simple interface which they can handle.
The choice is between using CAsyncSocket or socket API. I don't like MFC sockets support and prefer sockets API, but this is my personal opinion.

 

by: vadivherePosted on 2005-03-28 at 05:41:42ID: 13643321

Why you don't like mfc sockets AlexFM ? Is there any reason for that?

Vadivel Kumar

 

by: AlexFMPosted on 2005-03-28 at 05:51:26ID: 13643379

CSocket or CAsyncSocket ?

 

by: vadivherePosted on 2005-03-28 at 05:54:19ID: 13643393


  " I don't like MFC sockets support and prefer sockets API, but this is my personal opinion."   ???

    Why you dont like mfc sockets??

   

 

by: AlexFMPosted on 2005-03-28 at 06:14:29ID: 13643510

Using MFC socket classes hides internal implementation of sockets raw API and managing of worker threads required for this. This makes program non-portable, while sockets are supposed to work in any operating system. Personally, I don't like to use MFC serialization code with sockets. I prefer to have full control rather than rely on MFC support. But this is individual preference. You can write good program using CAsyncSocket class. For example, MFC HTTPSVR Sample is full-featured WEB server written using CAsyncSocket class. This proves that this class is quite good.
I prefer to use MFC only for Windows-related tasks. I don't like the following MFC classes:
1) Containers (it's better to use STL).
2) File operations (I am quite happy with CreateFile)
3) Sockets (I prefer socket API)
4) COM support (ATL is better).

I know that most MFC developers have the same opinion about STL and ATL. About sockets - I don't suggest you to follow my choice, you can decide this yourself.

 

by: vadivherePosted on 2005-03-28 at 19:26:42ID: 13649218

If you want to hold 14meg file, do you think Containers are worth it on that case?
-- Just to know your view as you have expressed a resonable thought about MFC --

Cheers
Vadivel Kumar

 

by: ShawnCurryPosted on 2005-03-29 at 21:26:33ID: 13659090

Thank you for your input.  I have learned a great deal about Microsoft's support for sockets and threads since first asking the question.  I have elected not to use MFC; as the user interface will likely be written in Java, and I need slightly finer-grained control than MFC provides.  I will definately need a ThreadPool, therefore I am designing my own Java-like sockets and concurrency APIs.

Thanks again,

Shawn

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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