What is DirectX?

[TripleJ]

I update it on my puter from time to time, but I don't really know what it is and what it affects.

It'd be good to know a little bit about it.

 

[AndyHui]

From Microsoft:

<< DirectX® is the multimedia system foundation for the Windows operating system. Using DirectX, programs can take full advantage of your computer to give you the best possible multimedia experience. >>



DirectX is a series of Windows APIs that accelerates multimedia functionality that comprises of DirectDraw, Direct3D, DirectPlay, DirectMusic, DirectSound and DirectInput.

Probably the most important are DirectDraw (for 2D graphics), and Direct3D.

One of the main advantages in the early days of DirectX was that it provided a standard baseline for multimedia functionality in things like video card drivers.

DirectX is especially important under Win2K and WinXP as drivers do not have direct access to the hardware (as was possible under DOS, Win3.x and Win9x). Drivers used to be able to get the best performance by having direct access to the hardware.

More from the Microsoft DirectX Overview:

Microsoft DirectX® is an advanced suite of multimedia application programming interfaces (APIs) built into Microsoft Windows® operating systems. DirectX provides a standard development platform for Windows-based PCs by enabling software developers to access specialized hardware features without having to write hardware-specific code. This technology was first introduced in 1995 and is a recognized standard for multimedia application development on the Windows platform.

What DirectX Does and How
Simply put, DirectX is a Windows technology that enables higher performance in graphics and sound when you?re playing games or watching video on your PC.

At the core of DirectX are its application programming interfaces, or APIs. The APIs act as a kind of bridge for the hardware and the software to "talk" to each other. The DirectX APIs give multimedia applications access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware such as three-dimensional (3-D) graphics acceleration chips and sound cards. They control low-level functions, including two-dimensional (2-D) graphics acceleration; support for input devices such as joysticks, keyboards, and mice; and control of sound mixing and sound output. Because of DirectX, what you experience with your computer is better 3-D graphics and immersive music and audio effects.

 

[Hender]

That's all true, but still a little confusing.

In olden days of yore, meaning--DOS--games that wanted to have sound and video used to have the programmers be forced to write games that had compatibility with certain pieces of hardware. I used to fire up games and pray that they had a selection for the Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum 16 sound card--my card--and if they did I was set, but if not, I had to fiddle with SoundBlaster emulation. That was the catch--if your hardware wasn't supported, then you had to have it emulated or you were out of luck.

With DirectX, game programmers can write just for DirectX. Sound, video, 3D, network code, music, even how your keyboard, joystick, and mouse work, all those can be written with standard code, and it works with every piece of hardware because the responsibility was placed in the hands of the hardware manufacturers to make sure that their drivers were able to listen to DirectX's commands. DirectX adds another layer between your hardware and the software, but it virtually ended compatibility issues and made games much easier to write.

 

[yourharddrive]

you're joking right?

 

[TripleJ]

Cheers Andy 🙂

 

[DinoGucci]

andy sounded like a microsoft spokesman hehe