Board needs DX startup code for d/l?

[VirtualAce]

How many times have we redirected new people to websites about DirectX? Many times they get intimidated and just give up. Perhaps we could code a DirectX startup module and make it available for download from the board. This way we could start explaining the meat of graphics code instead of having to go through all of the Windows crap that we all love so much.

Think about it. Essentially you setup just enough crap to satisfy Windows and then you tell it to take a hike. From then on, its pretty much like DOS graphics programming in that you plot pixels, draw lines, change modes, get pointers to buffers, etc.

Of course I'm only talking about DirectDraw here - D3D would be much different. We could use DX7 interfaces since the DX standard states that all previous interfaces should work with newer versions. The only reason I say DX7 is because DirectDraw was merge with Direct3D in DX8 and beyond.

Opinions?

[VirtualAce]

Could a moderator please sticky this post at least for a little bit.
Thx in advance.

[ygfperson]

Why teach DX7 when DX8 is more recent? What's the significance in the merging of Direct3d and directdraw?

[VirtualAce]

We would not be teaching DX anything. It would simply be a framework so that newcomers could get started doing graphics with a very limited knowledge of DirectX.

I'm talking about simple stuff like accessing the primary buffer via pointers, plotting pixels, drawing lines, etc.

I really dont care which DX interfaces we use.

[RoD]

Hmm, im not opposed to it i just dont know any DX stuff with the exception of direct input and sound

[vasanth]

well lets be more generic.. how about OpenGL instead of Direct X

[vasanth]

i had recomended a similar idea before where good programmers on this board could start tutorials and lessons.. where it progresses like a class.. but the mods turned it down saying that there are already a lot of sites which have lots of tutorial.. But my point was we could have an interaction based on the lessons (tutorials)... Hope this time it is favoured..

[VirtualAce]

I'm not talking about tutorials or anything. Just a simple DX startup framework that newbies could download and use to get them up and running in DirectX.

So instead of always referring them to another site we could just paste a link to our download and then help them from there. Many of the questions on the board do not relate Directly to DirectX but more towards graphics/rendering principles. Using DirectDraw it is possible to write an almost DOS-like software engine. Not comparing DOS to DirectX but you get the idea.

[RoD]

I have been thinking bout this all day, and heres what i have come up with.

I write a opengl tutorial series in its own lil section of the tutorials page, why not just write some DX tutorials the same way? We provide a thread with alot of really helpful thinks (which is constantly growing, maybe u could post a bunch of DX links?) as well as helping when we can.

I see where you are coming from, because there is an obvious in-balance as to DX and OpenGL in the game section, but thats because opengl is much more favored in general.

I dont think a bunch of code for dload is really needed, i mean we dont do that for opengl. Perhaps we can provide more resources however. Such as more links, being more open to helping those curious or in need when it comes to DX, and having someone write tutorials for DX and ask webmaster to house them.

I recall the thread Vasanth is referring too and i feel i should stick with my previous opinion in the right of DX.

Just my two cents.

[confuted]

I added a couple links to the game programming links thread with Direct3D stuff.

[RoD]

Thanks alot, i appreciate the contributions as they help that thread become a big addition to the forum, i didnt think it'd work out as well as it has.