• Registered: 2009-12-24
  • Posts: 54

Topic: Someone already managed to build an API using libnfc on windows?

It's been a while I try to make an application with visual studio 2010 in C #.

I managed to design my DLL and import it into my program in C #.

I managed to call a function to test (nfc_version). it works.

But for other functions, it becomes more complicated.

I have to create a wrapper c + + / cli in addition to my DLL.

but before I embark on the adventure, I wonder if someone already managed to make a windows application with libnfc??

I asked myself another question.
Why libnfc not made in a language easier to use with the latest programming languages? It's complicated to use this library.

cordially

  • Registered: 2009-06-22
  • Posts: 60

Re: Someone already managed to build an API using libnfc on windows?

Yes, I've used libnfc with .NET by writing an OLE automation component in C++ that sits between. The component is registered as an OLE class and has the TLB registered. You can then use the .NET to OLE interoperability tools to provide the bindings.

C is an appropriate language to write system level libraries, also Linux etc make it relatively easy to access USB devices so the focus of development has been using those platforms. ANSI C is a more portabable language than .NET or Java and lets the library run on very small embedded systems with limited resources.

Unfortunately the choice to standardise on C99 means it is extra work to build on Windows with the standard Microsoft Visual C++ tools which also means there will be less testing done on those platforms. I use 1.3.4 with modifications to build using MSVC++.

.NET is not an appropriate language for this kind of project, there are no  .NET bindings for either USB or PCSC devices, which means some interoperability layer is required to access those APIs.