DirectX SDK

The DirectX SDK is an important multimedia development kit for Microsoft Windows computers. It helps to develop DirectX compliant applications through the headers, libraries, tools and runtime contained in the DirectX SDK package. The DirectX SDK covers different APIs. Examples are Direct3D 9, 10 and 11, DirectCompute, XAudio2, XInput, DirectInput and DirectSound, while older components such as DirectDraw are treated by Microsoft as legacy technology. These APIs help to manage interactions existing between the hardware and the software effectively. Programmers and developers are provided with all the necessary tools, documentation, samples and debug files needed. The package also contains redistributable runtime libraries that developers can ship with their programs. The software is mostly utilized by programmers and developers who maintain games and graphics applications built on the classic DirectX APIs. The last standalone release is the June 2010 SDK, which officially supports Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. It provides headers, libraries, runtime debug files and tools for x86 and x64 platforms, together with utilities and samples. DirectX was created by Microsoft as a platform for high-performance game development on Windows. And over time, with advances in technology, it became relevant to a broader variety of applications. Today, the availability of Direct3D hardware in computers drives even ordinary desktop applications to use graphics hardware acceleration. More so, DirectX technologies are now tightly integrated into Windows and have become a fundamental part of the operating system. Starting with Windows 8, the DirectX SDK is included in the Windows SDK, and Microsoft describes the standalone DirectX SDK as end-of-life, to be used only for maintaining older software. People who only want to play games do not need the SDK at all; for them, the DirectX End-User Runtime web setup is the appropriate download.

Features:

• Usability improvement
• Object naming support in PIX
• Documentation organization
• Ability to aid integration for Visual Studio 2010
• Effective support for DirectSetup
• Version-less naming of cross-runtime data types

Gives developers the headers, libraries, PIX debugger and samples needed to build and maintain classic DirectX applications.