int main()

[masiht]

can we make any program without using int main() ??

[jsmith]

main() must be the entrypoint to any and all C/C++ programs.

[Bazzy]

Using Windows API the entry point is WinMain

[helios]

Why would anyone want to not use main(), anyway?

[masiht]

I just wanted to know the importance of main()

[wretch]

I'm trying to learn C++ with a background in C and a little playing around with Java. From Java (and I think C#) I get the old lecture "EVERYTHING is an object" which I think is the norm for most OO languages? Then with C++ you have main() which instead of being a method inside a class is out there by itself, so maybe that can be a little confusing if someone is learning C++ with some exposure to other OO languages? Which makes me wonder, does C++ allow some kind of construct where main is declared inside a class?

Of course I understand (and appreciate) that C++ must honor and be retroactive compatible with C and does not have the luxury of being "pure" OO. Also pre-dates JAVA, C# etc...

Anyways Im enjoying learning C++ and this forum really helps a lot. Just reading other peoples' questions and then the answers is hugely helpful.

[anders43]

in theory you can call your main function anything you like, it is just that by default, the linker uses main as program entry point (or WinMain in the case of windows programs). Most linkers allow you to specify another entry point (starting point) for your program if you wish to circumvent this although this is a topic not related to C++

[helios]

But the entry point has to be in global namespace (i.e. not a method or likewise).