Main method is different to those in tutorials - c++

Question

So I am starting with c++ (i am trying to broaden my mind with new languages) but I came across a little issue which confuses me more than what I guess it should...
Using Visual Studio Express 2012, I created a console win32 application in C++ and this is my main method decleration:
// TestApp.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//
#include "stdafx.h"
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
return 0;
}
however, since I dont know anything about c++, I searched for some tuts online and all of them had there declerations setup in a different manner
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout<<"HEY, you, I'm alive! Oh, and Hello World!\n";
cin.get();
}
and
// my first program in C++
#include <iostream>
int main()
{
std::cout << "Hello World!";
}
I tried typing in the "std::cout", but it wouldnt accept it,
could someone just clarify why and the significance of the difference ?

Answer 1

The main method can be define with or without parameters. It all depends upon what you are using your application for.
Take a look at this: https://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/comphelp/v8v101/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.ibm.xlcpp8a.doc%2Flanguage%2Fref%2Fmainf.htm
Also for your program you need to have a return value
// my first program in C++
#include <iostream>
int main()
{
std::cout << "Hello World!";
return 0;
}

Answer 2

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
is (at least I think so) a Windows only library and compiler depending way of declaring the main function.
Definitly not wrong is to declare main like this:
int main(int argc, char const *argv[])
{
//do something
return 0;
}
or like this:
int main()
{
//do something
return 0;
}
This is definitly proper C++ and you can use this universially.

Answer 3

C++ programs may have one of two beginnings:
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
or
int wmain(int argc, wchar_t *argv[])
The first of these gets its arguments (argv) as ANSI charachers, while the second gets "wide" characters -- generally UTF-16 or UTF-32, depending on the platform.
Microsoft define a framework to allow you make code that can compile with either ANSI or wide characters.
int _tmain(int argc, TCHAR *argv[])
Behind the scenes, they have something like this:
#if defined UNICODE
#define _tmain wmain
#define TCHAR wchar_t
#else
#define _tmain main
#define TCHAR char
#endif
They also have helper functions like _tprintf() and _tcscpy().
NOTE: as pointed out by others, the argc and argv params are optional, so you can also have
int main()
and
int wmain()
and (for Microsoft and compatible compilers)
int _tmain()
Also note that while _tmain() is not strictly portable, you can easily create your own #define macros if you want to be portable to other platforms.