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Top rated com, dcom and atl programming

AI-generated summary · updated July 28, 2026 · verify details before purchase.

  1. Best foundational reference

    Microsoft COM (Component Object Model) SDK

    The official Microsoft documentation and SDK provide comprehensive guidance on COM, including interfaces, IDL, and implementation best practices.

    • Authoritative source
    • Covers core concepts
    • Free to access
    • Steep learning curve
    • Outdated in places
  2. Best for C++ COM development

    ATL (Active Template Library) in Visual Studio

    Free with Visual Studio Community

    ATL simplifies COM development with lightweight templates and smart pointers, making it easier to build COM components.

    • Reduces boilerplate
    • Good performance
    • Integrates with Visual Studio
    • Limited to Windows
    • Requires C++ knowledge
  3. C++ COM Programming with ATL (Book by Richard Grimes)
    Best learning resource Apress

    C++ COM Programming with ATL (Book by Richard Grimes)

    4.3/5 $10.21

    Richard Grimes' book offers practical, in-depth guidance on COM and ATL programming with real-world examples.

    • Detailed explanations
    • Practical examples
    • Covers advanced topics
    • Somewhat dated
    • Physical book only
  4. Best for DCOM overview

    DCOM (Distributed COM) Essentials (Book by John D. Ruley)

    4.0/5 $30-$40

    Provides clear explanation of DCOM architecture, security, and remote object invocation for distributed systems.

    • Good introduction
    • Covers security
    • Practical advice
    • Old material
    • Limited depth
  5. COM and .NET Interoperability (Book by Andrew Troelsen)
    Best for interop between COM and .NET Apress

    COM and .NET Interoperability (Book by Andrew Troelsen)

    4.2/5 $42.55

    Explains how to bridge COM components with .NET applications, including RCW, CCW, and marshaling.

    • Clear interop guidance
    • Covers both directions
    • Practical examples
    • Focuses on .NET 2.0
    • Not for pure COM
  6. Best deep dive into ATL

    ATL Internals (Book by Chris Sells and Jim Springfield)

    4.5/5 $45-$55

    This book explores ATL's internal workings, from smart pointers to threading models, ideal for advanced developers.

    • In-depth analysis
    • Expert authors
    • Covers threading
    • Not for beginners
    • Outdated edition
  7. COM+ Programming with Visual Basic (Book by Ted Pattison)
    Best for COM+ services with VB Microsoft Press

    COM+ Programming with Visual Basic (Book by Ted Pattison)

    3.8/5 $13.98

    Focuses on building scalable COM+ applications using VB 6, covering transactions, JIT activation, and object pooling.

    • COM+ coverage
    • VB-specific examples
    • Easy to follow
    • VB6 obsolete
    • Limited modern use
  8. Windows via C/C++ (Book by Jeffrey Richter and Christophe Nasarre)
    Best for Windows system programming including COM Microsoft Press

    Windows via C/C++ (Book by Jeffrey Richter and Christophe Nasarre)

    4.7/5 $53.59

    Comprehensive coverage of Windows programming, with chapters on COM, DLLs, and memory management.

    • Authoritative
    • Covers many Windows APIs
    • Practical
    • General Windows focus
    • COM not the main topic
  9. Best quick start guide

    COM: A Brief How-To (Online Article by CodeProject)

    4.1/5

    A concise online tutorial that walks through creating and using a simple COM object in C++.

    • Free
    • Easy to follow
    • Hands-on
    • Very basic
    • Not comprehensive
  10. Best online tutorial for ATL/WTL

    ATL/WTL (Windows Template Library) Tutorials (Online by The Code Project)

    4.0/5

    Step-by-step tutorials on building Windows applications with ATL and WTL, covering controls, dialogs, and COM.

    • Hands-on examples
    • Free
    • Covers both ATL and WTL
    • Not updated recently
    • Intermediate level

Buying advice

When choosing COM, DCOM, or ATL resources, consider your background: beginners should start with foundational guides (e.g., Microsoft docs or CodeProject tutorials) before diving into books. For deep dives, "ATL Internals" and "Windows via C/C++" are highly rated but assume prior experience. DCOM resources are scarce; the book by Ruley is a decent overview. Always verify source compatibility with your development environment (e.g., Visual Studio version, operating system).

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