Hello! I'm trying run my GUI application getting a console hidden. The application is on top of GTKD, compiled with dmd 2.081.1 in Windows 7 x64. I read a few threads on the forum and StackOverflow and I got that I need to add a module definition file [1] or to add -L/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS -L/ENTRY:mainCRTStartup options to compiler [2] or to add only /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS [3] or use a command getting console hidden [4].

Actually no one case works properly. The first one doesn't affect, the second "unbinds" appeared console giving ability to close it without closing the application, the third one raises a linker error about unresolved symbol WinMain, the fourth one hides a console but it does it with delay. Also, I tried to use `editbin /SUBSYSTEM:windows myapp.exe` but I it doesn't affect anything. Here is my dub.json [5]

So... how prevent appearing of console on the startup of the application?

[1] https://wiki.dlang.org/D_for_Win32
[2] https://forum.dlang.org/post/bhswtzoklrzzslliqkvr@forum.dlang.org
[3] https://forum.dlang.org/post/qcejigllwticykoiwppr@forum.dlang.org
[4] https://stackoverflow.com/a/2139903
[5] http://vpaste.net/mEy2P

On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 08:09:33 UTC, ANtlord wrote:

> So... how prevent appearing of console on the startup of the application?

Here's my test
---
module HelloMsg;

import core.runtime;
import std.utf;
import core.sys.windows.windows;

auto toUTF16z(S)(S s)
{
    return toUTFz!(const(wchar)*)(s);
}

extern (Windows)
int WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int iCmdShow)
{
    int result;
    void exceptionHandler(Throwable e) { throw e; }

    try
    {

        Runtime.initialize();
        result = myWinMain(hInstance, hPrevInstance, lpCmdLine, iCmdShow);
        Runtime.terminate();
    }
    catch (Throwable o)
    {
        MessageBox(null, o.toString().toUTF16z, "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
        result = 0;
    }

    return result;
}

int myWinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int iCmdShow)
{
    MessageBox(NULL, "Hello, Windows!", "Your Application", 0);
    return 0;
}
---

dmd -L/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS main.d
main.obj : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol MessageBoxW referenced in function WinMain

dmd -L/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS main.d User32.lib
Success!

Executing from PowerShell: no console
Executing from Command Prompt: no console
Double-clicking in Explorer: no console

Windows 10 64-bit

Mike

On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 08:48:54 UTC, Mike Franklin wrote:

>
> Here's my test

>
> extern (Windows)
> int WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int iCmdShow)


When using WinMain, subsystem:windows is the default. The OP wants to use main as the entry point, where the console subsystem is the default.

On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 08:09:33 UTC, ANtlord wrote:
> Hello! I'm trying run my GUI application getting a console hidden. The application is on top of GTKD, compiled with dmd 2.081.1 in Windows 7 x64. I read a few threads on the forum and StackOverflow and I got that I need to add a module definition file [1] or to add -L/SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS -L/ENTRY:mainCRTStartup options to compiler [2] or to add only /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS [3] or use a command getting console hidden [4].


I've never used a module definition file for this. The /subsystem:windows switch has always worked for me. When linking with OPTLINK, that's all you need. When using the MS linker, you'll need that along with the /ENTRY:mainCRTStartup. With recent versions, if you don't have the MS tools installed, you'll get the LLVM linker when using -m64 or -m43mscoff. If that's the case, I don't know that it even supports changing the subsystem or, if it does, what the syntax looks like. A cursory search turns up nothing.

Anyway, if you are using OPTLINK or the MS Linker, try a test program without gtkD to make sure it works standalone for you.

```
import core.sys.windows.windows;

void main() {
    MessageBoxA(null, "Look, Ma! No console!", "It works!", MB_OK);
}
```

Both of the following command lines work for me.

With OPTLINK:
dmd -L/SUBSYSTEM:windows win.d

With the MS linker:
dmd -m64 -L/SUBSYSTEM:windows -L/ENTRY:mainCRTStartup win.d user32.lib

On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 09:20:22 UTC, Mike Parker wrote:
> On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 08:09:33 UTC, ANtlord wrote:
>
> Anyway, if you are using OPTLINK or the MS Linker, try a test program without gtkD to make sure it works standalone for you.
>
> ```
> import core.sys.windows.windows;
>
> void main() {
>     MessageBoxA(null, "Look, Ma! No console!", "It works!", MB_OK);
> }
> ```

You partially are right, the issue is related to the application internals but not to GTKD. I forgot that I launch the second application inside. I recompiled both of the with -L/SUBSYSTEM:windows -L/ENTRY:mainCRTStartup and that's it.

Thanks a lot everyone!