Microsoft Direct3D (Microsoft DirectX): Direct3D (D3D) is a 3D application programming interface (API) library from Microsoft. Examples of other popular 3D APIs include: OpenGL, Java3D, etc. D3D is part of the Microsoft DirectX distribution. DirectX is a collection of APIs from Microsoft that supports software development on Microsoft platforms.
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Click here
for general information on DirectX.
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DirectX SDK is the
development toolkit for developing applications on top of DirectX. Typically a
SDK includes:
o development environment (e.g. include files, etc)
o run time library
(e.g. DLLs)
o development manual
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There are typically
new releases of the DirectX SDK every 3-6 months. I checked on September 26,
2007 and the latest release are:
o August 2007 DX SDK – Click here to download
the SDK.
o June 2007 DX SDK – Click here to check out
the download site.
o … there are at least a couple more releases …
o August 2006 DX SDK – Click here to check out
the download site, at this point, my home machine is on this release.
As far as this class is concerned, there is no
real difference between the versions. You should be able to download any of the
above versions. REMEMBER: to install
the debug
version of DirectX runtime support. Unfortunately, we will need to
debug during the development.
Let me know if you have trouble downloading or need help. I can always cut you a CD.
Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC): MFC has been around for quite a while now. After resisting learning it all my life, I finally took the dive in Fall 2002. Well, it was, and still is a pain, but it gets the job done.
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Steve Baer pointed out to me the following two websites for getting
help on MFC related issues:
Steve was a UWB
student. Yes, he is a co-author of the book we will be using in this class, and
yes, there are tons of things students know more about than I do. No, it does
not bother me. On the contrary, I love it! Why else do you think I am here? I
am here to learn!
Standard Template Library (STL): I will be using STL for common data structures (e.g. Link List, etc). If you don’t already know about STL, Steve suggests Phil Ottewell's STL Tutorial (http://www.pottsoft.com/home/stl/stl.htmlx) as a good place to begin.
Others: Refer to my links to graphics/games sites, people post code/FAQ/etc on a lot of these sites. Remember to:
1. Cite any code/design that did not originate from you. Using others’ results is acceptable as long as you give them proper credit. Now, if you use too much of others’ result, your grade will suffer. But at least, you will not be doing anything illegal. Right?
2. Critically evaluate what you see on the web before you use it. For all you know, some novice programmer may have posted some bad design/code there. Using it blindly will make you look worst than a novice programmer. Now we can’t have that! Can we?