I used 'extern "C"' before for dll(dynamic link library) files to make etc. main() function "exportable" so it can be used later in another executable from dll.
Maybe an example of where I used to use it can be useful.
DLL
#include <string.h>
#include <windows.h>
using namespace std;
#define DLL extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
//I defined DLL for dllexport function
DLL main ()
{
MessageBox(NULL,"Hi from DLL","DLL",MB_OK);
}
EXE
#include <string.h>
#include <windows.h>
using namespace std;
typedef LPVOID (WINAPI*Function)();//make a placeholder for function from dll
Function mainDLLFunc;//make a variable for function placeholder
int main()
{
char winDir[MAX_PATH];//will hold path of above dll
GetCurrentDirectory(sizeof(winDir),winDir);//dll is in same dir as exe
strcat(winDir,"\\exmple.dll");//concentrate dll name with path
HINSTANCE DLL = LoadLibrary(winDir);//load example dll
if(DLL==NULL)
{
FreeLibrary((HMODULE)DLL);//if load fails exit
return 0;
}
mainDLLFunc=(Function)GetProcAddress((HMODULE)DLL, "main");
//defined variable is used to assign a function from dll
//GetProcAddress is used to locate function with pre defined extern name "DLL"
//and matcing function name
if(mainDLLFunc==NULL)
{
FreeLibrary((HMODULE)DLL);//if it fails exit
return 0;
}
mainDLLFunc();//run exported function
FreeLibrary((HMODULE)DLL);
}