Win16 Programming Resources

2021-06-23

'Win16' is the colloquial name for the Windows API that shipped with Windows 3.11 and earlier. It's still supported to this day, even on Windows 10 - but only for 32-bit software and greater. Your 16-bit software is going to require DOSbox or a VM.

I want to try my hand at Win16 programming some time, starting with a Win16 interface for Replicalc. However, there is very little surviving information online. This list represents everything I have been able to collate so far, primarily from a C perspective.

Compilers

• Open Watcom
• Digital Mars ($$$)
• DJGPP
• Useful Info on Win16-Targeting Compilers... And a List of DOS/Win16 Resources

API Documentation

• C Standard Library Documentation

General

• Building Win16 GUI Applications in C
• Building a Windows 3.1 Application in 2019
• An Introduction to Windows Programming
• Using the Windows API in Delphi
• Win16 for Fun and Profit

Emulation

• Why I'm writing a Windows 3 Emulator

Reverse Engineering

• Resources for Reverse-Engineering 16-bit Applications

Books

• Programming Windows 3.1 by Charles Petzold ($$$)

Videos

• Hello Windows! RetroCoding "Hello World" for Windows with Dave

Honourable Mentions

(Resources not directly related to Win16 programming)

DOS Programming

• Awesome DOS

Win32 Programming

• Frequently Asked Questions About Win32 Programming
• Programming Windows by Charles Petzold ($$$)