Windows-based applications are software programs designed to run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. These applications can range from simple utilities to complex enterprise-level software. In this article, we will explore how to create a basic Windows-based application using a simple programming language and how to execute it via the Command Prompt (CMD).

Creating a Simple Windows Application

For this example, we'll create a basic Windows application using C#. C# is a popular programming language for developing Windows applications due to its integration with the .NET framework.

1. Install Visual Studio: First, ensure you have Visual Studio installed on your Windows machine. You can download it from the official Microsoft website.

2. Create a New Project:

   • Open Visual Studio.
   • Select "Create a new project."
   • Choose "Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)" and click "Next."
   • Name your project and choose a location to save it, then click "Create."

3. Design Your Application:

   • Use the designer to drag and drop controls like buttons, text boxes, and labels onto your form.
   • Double-click on the controls to add event handlers for actions like button clicks.

4. Write Code:

   • In the code editor, add functionality to your controls. For example, you can display a message box when a button is clicked:

     private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
     {
      MessageBox.Show("Hello, Windows!");
     }

5. Build Your Application:

   • Click on "Build" in the menu and select "Build Solution" to compile your application.

Executing the Application via CMD

Once your application is built, you can run it using the Command Prompt.

1. Navigate to the Application Directory:

   • Open CMD.
   • Use the cd command to change the directory to where your application's executable file (.exe) is located. For example:

     cd C:\Users\YourUsername\source\repos\YourProjectName\YourProjectName\bin\Debug

2. Run the Application:

   • Execute the application by typing its name followed by .exe. For example:

     YourApplicationName.exe

Examples

Here’s a simple example of a C# Windows Forms application that displays a message box when a button is clicked:

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace HelloWorldApp
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Hello, Windows!");
        }
    }
}

To execute this application via CMD, navigate to the directory containing the executable and run the command as shown above.