Summary

Summary Windows' 64-bit API will allow the most demanding enterprise, scientific, and engineering applications to run on Windows platforms using the next generation of 64-bit processors. A few simple precautions will help assure that your programs can be targeted at both Win32 and Win64 platforms. Additional Reading The best additional information sources are the MSDN library and information posted by Microsoft. Here are some suggestions from Microsoft and elsewhere. The Microsoft "New Data Types" article is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/win64/win64/the_new_data_types.asp. Tables 16-1 and 16-2 are from this article. "Introduction to Developing Applications for the 64-bit Version of Windows" is a good short introduction that describes the different programming models. The paper is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnnetserv/html/ws03-64-bitwindevover.asp. This paper also has a brief Itanium overview, even though Itanium is not the only Win64 host processor. The UNIX "Aspen" rationale, which makes a strong case for the LP64 model, is available at http://www.opengroup.org/public/tech/aspen/lp64_wp.htm. An article, "Migration Tips," at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/win64/win64/migration_tips.asp provides good 32-bit to 64-bit porting tips and has additional useful links. A Web search will locate additional advice and information. If you are interested in computer architecture in general, Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, by John L. Hennessy and David A. Patterson, is the standard. For specific Itanium information, see Walter Triebel's Itanium Architecture for Software Developers. The Intel and AMD Web sites (http://www.intel.com and http://www.amd.com/us-en) have extensive architectural information on the 64-bit extension architectures.