DirectX is a graphics application launcher that contains a set of advanced commands that allow you to implement complex visual effects. DirectX is widely used in the development of computer games and is distributed free of charge on the Microsoft website.
The emergence of DirectX
DirectX has been focused on the development of computer games from the very beginning. The software solution was developed in conjunction with the release of Windows 95 in order to attract developers to write complex graphical applications on a new, standardized platform. The first version of DirectX was called the Windows Game SDK and was released in 1995. After that, the Direct3D platform began to be implemented, which was positioned as a replacement for the increasingly popular OpenGL environment, which is also widely used in the field of computer games, but has somewhat limited functionality.
DirectX in version 8.1 became the basis for the Xbox. In 2002 DirectX 9.0 was released, which significantly increased the possibilities for creating new games and implemented support for shaders, i.e. improved rendering of shadows.
The most current version of DirectX to date is 11.2, which is included by default in Windows 8.1.
In addition to graphics processing, DirectX deals with sound output and processing of data that come from the keyboard, mouse or joystick of the gamer. With each new version, the DirectX code gets improved, which means that the graphics capabilities get better. With the new features offered in this library, developers have increased opportunities to improve the performance of games and the entertainment of the game processor.
Installing DirectX
The most recent version of DirectX can be found on the official Microsoft website. The product is free to download. You can also install DirectX from the game disc, since most modern developers, when releasing a game product, include the libraries necessary for the successful launch of the game on the media.
The installation of the program is automated, it is performed in just two steps and does not require any additional actions from the user.
DirectX is supported on all Windows systems starting with Windows 95. Most modern games require at least 9.0c support for most modern games, but most recent gaming applications require at least version 10. Before installing, make sure your computer has Nvidia drivers or ATI, downloaded from the official developer site. DirectX 10 (Direct3D 10) technology is supported on graphics cards from Nvidia GeForce 8000 and later. To run DirectX 10 on ATI Radeon graphics cards, you need a 2000 model or higher.
