Estructura en grande del cosmos
Microsoft DirectX is a continuation of API to carry out the tasks relative to multi-media, more specifically with the programming of plays and the video. One finds it major part of time on platforms Microsoft (Xbox, operating systems Windows where a version is installed by defect), it allows the exploitation high efficiencies of the material capacities of a Ordinateur. To note, that it appeared for the first time in 1995 under the name of " The SDK" Range;.
DirectX provides a whole of libraries of functions primarily dedicated to the audio/video treatments (video Carte, Carte its, etc) and to the peripherals of input/output (joystick, Carte network, mouse, etc).
The advantage of the functions of DirectX for the programmers is that those use (if possible) a alternate algorithm (entrusted to the processor) when the material installed does not manage this type of treatment. It functions like a surcouche of Windows, theoretically avoiding with the programmers having to deal with the material differences which exist between different PC. For example, if a video chart does not have functions dedicated to the 3D, DirectX will require of the Processeur to deal with returned of a Synthesized image or returned the 3D in real-time.
DirectX is the property of the company Microsoft. This product not being a Free software, the sources are not made public, contrary to the library OpenGL, competitor of Direct3D. In spite of that, it becomes increasingly impossible to circumvent in particular in the field of the programming of the video games 3D, Microsoft busy of the technological agreements with the manufacturers of charts 3D general public.
The Xbox, the console of Microsoft, uses a modified version of DirectX 8.1, and the Xbox 360 a modified version of DirectX 9.0c.
On PC, DirectX is currently in version 10 for Windows Vista and 9.0c for all the other versions of Windows. A version 10.1 is under development for Windows Vista.
The order " dxdiag" , typed in the menu " exécuter" of Windows, allows to know which is the version installed on the computer.
DirectX family
DirectX consists of several modules more or less independent from/to each other, of which:
- Direct3D : manage posting 3D (added starting from version 2)
- DirectDraw: manage posting 2D Raster (integrated into Direct3D since version 8)
- DirectInput: manage the peripherals of entry (keyboard, mouse, joystick, flying and other controllers of play)
- DirectPlay: manage the exchanges of information by network (local or Internet)
- DirectSound: manage the sounds (replaced by DirectSound3D since version 3)
- DirectMusic: API of DirectSound
- DirectVoice: manage the vocal exchanges on line
- DirectSetup: manage the installation of DirectX components (it is not really API)
- : manage the posting and the capture of video
- DirectX Media: Framework including DirectAnimation, DirectShow, Video DirectX Acceleration, Direct3D Retained Mode and DirectX Transform for animation, the multi-media reading and the applications of streaming, the 3D, and the interactivity
- DirectX Media Objects: manage the support of the objects Streaming such as the coders, the decoders and the effects
With the arrival of Windows Vista and DirectX 10, many changes were operated concerning the DirectX platform:
- DirectInput will be disapproved in favor of, component coming from the Xbox TEAM.
- In the same way, DirectSound will be also disapproved in favor of.
- DirectPlay is disapproved in favor of the Xbox Live whereas DirectShow is disapproved in favor of Media Foundation, a varied whole of APIs making their appearance with Windows Vista to manage the audio and video reading.
- DirectMusic will remain probably the only intact component.
Bearings except Microsoft
Some try to adapt DirectX to their platform (example: Linux WineHQ).
Versions
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