A simple PostgreSQL SELECT query client built from scratch using CMake, Win32 API, and libpq.

Directory: hour1_cmake_win32_foundation/

• Set up CMake project structure
• Configure Win32 application
• Link PostgreSQL libpq library
• Create basic window with WinMain
• Test compilation and window creation

Directory: hour2_connection_debug/

• Add connection parameter controls (Host, Port, User, Password, Database)
• Implement Connect button functionality
• Create scrollable debug output window
• Test PostgreSQL connection
• Display connection status in debug window

Directory: hour3_query_execution/

• Add multi-line query input control
• Implement Execute button
• Execute SELECT queries using libpq
• Display results in debug window
• Error handling and messages

Directory: hour4_listview_results/

• Create ListView control (LVS_REPORT mode)
• Dynamically add column headers from query results
• Populate rows with data
• Handle different data types
• Clear and refresh ListView

Directory: hour5_polish_features/

• Handle NULL values display
• Better error messages
• Column auto-sizing
• Timestamps in debug output
• Row/execution statistics
• Final testing and demo

Make sure PostgreSQL is installed and running locally.

createdb stream_demo

Or using psql:

CREATE DATABASE stream_demo;

psql -d stream_demo -f init_database.sql

psql -d stream_demo -c "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM customers;"

The demo database includes:

• categories - Product categories (5 records)
• products - Products with prices and stock (12 records)
• customers - Customer information (10 records)
• orders - Customer orders (10 records)
• order_items - Order line items (14 records)

Plus two views:

• customer_order_summary - Customer purchase statistics
• product_sales - Product sales summary

See sample_queries.sql for ready-to-use queries organized by complexity:

• Basic SELECT statements
• JOINs and aggregations
• Subqueries and CASE statements
• Date/string functions
• Error cases for testing

• Host: localhost
• Port: 5432
• Database: stream_demo
• User: postgres (or your PostgreSQL user)
• Password: (your PostgreSQL password)

• CMake 3.15+
• PostgreSQL with libpq development files
• Windows SDK (for Win32 API)
• C++ compiler (MSVC recommended on Windows)

pq/
├── hour1_cmake_win32_foundation/
├── hour2_connection_debug/
├── hour3_query_execution/
├── hour4_listview_results/
├── hour5_polish_features/
├── init_database.sql          # Database setup script
├── sample_queries.sql         # Test queries
└── README.md                  # This file

1. Start each hour by copying previous hour's code
2. Test frequently - run after each major change
3. Use sample_queries.sql to avoid typing SQL live
4. The debug window helps viewers understand what's happening
5. Intentionally trigger errors to show error handling

• CMake project configuration from scratch
• Win32 API fundamentals (windows, controls, message handling)
• ListView control in report mode
• PostgreSQL C API (libpq) basics
• SQL query execution and result processing
• Error handling in native applications