MSDN Documentation

Getting Started with DirectX 12

This series introduces the fundamentals of DirectX 12, a modern graphics API designed for maximum performance and efficiency. Learn how to set up your DirectX project, render your first triangle, and understand core concepts like command lists and pipelines.

• 1. Introduction to DirectX 12
• 2. Setting Up Your DirectX 12 Project
• 3. Rendering Your First Triangle
• 4. Understanding Graphics Pipelines

Advanced DirectX Techniques

Explore more advanced topics to enhance your graphics applications. This section covers essential techniques for creating complex scenes, optimizing rendering, and implementing modern visual effects.

• Shader Programming with HLSL
• Implementing Real-time Lighting
• Advanced Texture Mapping
• Performance Optimization Strategies

DirectX Media and Input

Learn how to integrate audio and handle user input seamlessly within your DirectX applications. These tutorials provide the knowledge to create rich, interactive experiences.

• Working with Audio (XAudio2)
• Handling Keyboard and Mouse Input

Example: Basic DirectX 12 Application

Follow along with a step-by-step guide to build a functional DirectX 12 application from scratch. This practical example reinforces the concepts learned in the introductory tutorials.

Project Structure

The basic structure of a DirectX 12 application typically involves:

1. Initialization of DirectX devices and swap chain.
2. Creation of render targets and depth-stencil buffers.
3. Compilation of shaders (vertex and pixel).
4. Setting up input layouts and pipeline states.
5. Recording commands into a command list.
6. Executing command lists and presenting the rendered frame.

Core Code Snippet (Conceptual)

Here's a simplified look at the core rendering loop:

// Assume device, command_allocator, command_list, etc. are initialized

// --- Inside the rendering loop ---

// Transition back buffer to render target state
D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER barrier_rt = {};
barrier_rt.Type = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_TYPE_TRANSITION;
barrier_rt.Flags = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_FLAG_NONE;
barrier_rt.pResource = m_pSwapChainBuffer[frame_index].Get();
barrier_rt.Transition.State = D3D12_RESOURCE_STATE_RENDER_TARGET;
barrier_rt.Transition.Subresource = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_ALL_SPECIAL_LANE;
m_command_list->ResourceBarrier(1, &barrier_rt);

// Set render targets
FLOAT clear_color[] = { 0.0f, 0.2f, 0.4f, 1.0f };
m_command_list->ClearRenderTargetView(m_render_target_view_handle[frame_index], clear_color, 0, nullptr);

// ... Record drawing commands here ...

// Transition back buffer to present state
D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER barrier_present = {};
barrier_present.Type = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_TYPE_TRANSITION;
barrier_present.Flags = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_FLAG_NONE;
barrier_present.pResource = m_pSwapChainBuffer[frame_index].Get();
barrier_present.Transition.State = D3D12_RESOURCE_STATE_PRESENT;
barrier_present.Transition.Subresource = D3D12_RESOURCE_BARRIER_ALL_SPECIAL_LANE;
m_command_list->ResourceBarrier(1, &barrier_present);

// Close and execute the command list
ThrowIfFailed(m_command_list->Close());
ID3D12CommandList* ppCommandLists[] = { m_command_list.Get() };
m_command_queue->ExecuteCommandLists(_countof(ppCommandLists), ppCommandLists);

// Present the frame
ThrowIfFailed(m_pSwapChain->Present(1, 0));

// Wait for GPU to finish
// ... Signal and fence operations ...
                

For the complete code, please refer to the Basic DirectX 12 Sample.