C# Signature:

[DllImport("kernel32", SetLastError=true, ExactSpelling=true)]
static extern bool AllocConsole();

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

This is "AllocConsole", not "AttachConsole". They are different APIs. Would whoever keeps changing to back to AttachConsole after we fix it, please cut it out. Furthermore, it does Set Last Error and there is no "AllocConsoleA" or "AllocConsoleW" methods, so the parameters to DllImport are also now correct, so please stop changing those as well.

Tips & Tricks:

This is a simple way to create a "dual-mode" application can be a console or windows forms application.

Sample Code:

    // Compile as a Windows Forms app.
    [STAThread]
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        if (args.Length < 1)
        {
            Application.Run(new Form1());
        }
        else
        {
            AllocConsole();
            Console.WriteLine("Hello, World!");
            Console.Write("Press a key to continue...");
            Console.Read();
        }
    }

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!