COMBind Home Page

A template-based Library for building reusable COM objects using C++.

What is COMBind?
COMBind is a library of C++ classes that provide efficient default implementations of various parts of the Component Object Model. The library uses templates extensively (although not nearly as extensively as STL) and simplifies the creation of COM-compliant classes and clients. ComBind is currently "way beta" but is available via the net by sending mail to combind-request@develop.com
What does/will COMBind contain?
COMBIND currently contains relatively stable versions of:

A template-based implementation of IUnknown that supports COM aggregation
A template-based implementation of a Class Factory
A template-based implementation of a Smart Interface Pointer
Single-source Inproc/Local server management
Unicode<->ANSI String-thunking Classes (no more OLE2ANSI)
Registry Manipulation Routines
Very minimal interoperability with MFC

The components listed above are quite usable, and are not likely to change radically for a while (at least the public interfaces won't change).
The next major release (due in early September) will contain stable versions of the classes listed above and also include:

A template-based implementation of IDispatch
A template-based implementation of Dual Interfaces
A stream-based implementation of IDispatch clients
A Type Library Browser that generates dispatch proxy code and interface definitions
A stream-based implementation of Proxy/Stub pairs for Standard Marshaling
A framework for building Windows 95/Cairo Shell Extensions
Support for Property Sets
A COM-based API to the registry
A framework for implementing custom marshaling handlers
Better support for C++ exceptions
An architecture for expressing normal C++ exceptions in COM

Why not just use MFC?
Go ahead! In fact, a lot of the UI code used in the ComBind browser is implemented in MFC. However, MFC is not the correct solution for a variety of problems encountered by a COM programmer. ComBind attempts to provide an alternative to MFC that is simple, lightweight and true to C++. ComBind isn't for everyone, but it is arguably easier than rolling your own.
How do I get COMBind?
The first external release of ComBind is slated to be available but is available via the ftp in late July. You can be notified of release status by sending mail to combind-request@develop.com.