CEF Simple C++ Example
This directory contains a minimal CEF browser application written in C++ using the CEF C++ API.
Overview
cefsimple is the canonical minimal CEF application demonstrating:
- C++ implementation - Uses CEF C++ API with automatic reference counting
- Basic browser functionality - Window creation, navigation, and lifecycle management
- Cross-platform - Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Minimal code - Simple architecture suitable for learning CEF basics
C API Version
A pure C implementation of this example is available at ../cefsimple_capi/. The C version demonstrates the same functionality using the CEF C API with manual reference counting.
When to use each:
- Use cefsimple (C++) - For production applications and most use cases
- Use cefsimple_capi (C) - When C++ is not available or for embedding in C projects
Learning Resources
New to CEF? Start with the CEF Tutorial, which provides a detailed walkthrough of this exact example:
- Architecture overview - CEF processes, threads, and callbacks
- Code walkthrough - Detailed explanation of each file and function
- Program flow - How cefsimple initializes and runs
- Key concepts - CefApp, CefClient, handlers, and browser lifecycle
The Tutorial is the recommended starting point for understanding how CEF applications work.
For complete API documentation, see General Usage.
Architecture
Core Files
- simple_app.h/cc - Application handler (CefApp)
- simple_handler.h/cc - Client handler with display, life span, and load handlers
Platform-Specific Files
Windows
- cefsimple_win.cc - Windows entry point (wWinMain)
- simple_handler_win.cc - Windows-specific handler implementation
Linux
- cefsimple_linux.cc - Linux entry point (main)
- simple_handler_linux.cc - Linux/X11-specific handler implementation
macOS
- cefsimple_mac.mm - macOS entry point with NSApplication integration
- simple_handler_mac.mm - macOS-specific handler implementation
- process_helper_mac.cc - Helper process entry point
Key Features
- Automatic reference counting - CefRefPtr handles object lifetime
- Helper window - Creates a browser window with navigation controls
- Error handling - Displays error pages for failed navigations
- Cross-platform UI - Uses Views framework for consistent UI
Maintenance Pattern
This is the primary CEF sample application. Changes to CEF features, API updates, or bug fixes should be applied here first, then ported to cefsimple_capi (the C version).
Typical workflow:
- Update cefsimple (C++ version) with new features or API changes
- Port equivalent changes to cefsimple_capi using C API patterns
- Result: Both examples demonstrate the same functionality
References
- CEF Tutorial - Detailed walkthrough of this example
- CEF General Usage - Complete API documentation
- CEF C++ API Documentation
- C API Version - Pure C implementation of this example