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In this section, we will cover the essential steps to initialize Direct3D, which is a crucial part of any DirectX application. By the end of this module, you will have a basic Direct3D setup that can be used as a foundation for rendering graphics.

Key Concepts

Direct3D Device and Device Context: These are the core components used to interface with the GPU.
Swap Chain: Manages the buffers that are displayed on the screen.
Render Target View: Defines the render target, which is where the GPU will draw the output.
Viewport: Defines the area of the render target to which Direct3D will draw.

Steps to Initialize Direct3D

Create the Direct3D Device and Device Context
Create the Swap Chain
Create the Render Target View
Set the Viewport

Step 1: Create the Direct3D Device and Device Context

The Direct3D device and device context are created using the D3D11CreateDevice function. This function initializes the Direct3D device and device context, which are used to interface with the GPU.

#include <d3d11.h>
#include <dxgi.h>
#include <d3dcompiler.h>
#include <DirectXMath.h>

// Global Declarations
ID3D11Device* g_pd3dDevice = nullptr;
ID3D11DeviceContext* g_pImmediateContext = nullptr;

HRESULT hr = D3D11CreateDevice(
    nullptr,                    // Specify nullptr to use the default adapter.
    D3D_DRIVER_TYPE_HARDWARE,   // Create a device using the hardware graphics driver.
    0,                          // Should be 0 unless the driver is D3D_DRIVER_TYPE_SOFTWARE.
    0,                          // Set debug and Direct2D compatibility flags.
    nullptr,                    // List of feature levels this app can support.
    0,                          // Number of elements in the feature level array.
    D3D11_SDK_VERSION,          // Always set this to D3D11_SDK_VERSION.
    &g_pd3dDevice,              // Returns the Direct3D device created.
    nullptr,                    // Returns feature level of device created.
    &g_pImmediateContext        // Returns the device immediate context.
);

if (FAILED(hr)) {
    // Handle device creation failure
}

Step 2: Create the Swap Chain

The swap chain is responsible for presenting the rendered image to the screen. It manages the back buffer and the front buffer.

IDXGISwapChain* g_pSwapChain = nullptr;

DXGI_SWAP_CHAIN_DESC sd;
ZeroMemory(&sd, sizeof(sd));
sd.BufferCount = 1;
sd.BufferDesc.Width = 800;
sd.BufferDesc.Height = 600;
sd.BufferDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
sd.BufferDesc.RefreshRate.Numerator = 60;
sd.BufferDesc.RefreshRate.Denominator = 1;
sd.BufferUsage = DXGI_USAGE_RENDER_TARGET_OUTPUT;
sd.OutputWindow = hWnd; // Handle to the window
sd.SampleDesc.Count = 1;
sd.SampleDesc.Quality = 0;
sd.Windowed = TRUE;

IDXGIDevice* pDXGIDevice = nullptr;
g_pd3dDevice->QueryInterface(__uuidof(IDXGIDevice), (void**)&pDXGIDevice);

IDXGIAdapter* pDXGIAdapter = nullptr;
pDXGIDevice->GetParent(__uuidof(IDXGIAdapter), (void**)&pDXGIAdapter);

IDXGIFactory* pIDXGIFactory = nullptr;
pDXGIAdapter->GetParent(__uuidof(IDXGIFactory), (void**)&pIDXGIFactory);

hr = pIDXGIFactory->CreateSwapChain(g_pd3dDevice, &sd, &g_pSwapChain);

if (FAILED(hr)) {
    // Handle swap chain creation failure
}

Step 3: Create the Render Target View

The render target view is created from the back buffer of the swap chain. This is where the GPU will draw the output.

ID3D11RenderTargetView* g_pRenderTargetView = nullptr;
ID3D11Texture2D* pBackBuffer = nullptr;

hr = g_pSwapChain->GetBuffer(0, __uuidof(ID3D11Texture2D), (void**)&pBackBuffer);
if (FAILED(hr)) {
    // Handle getting buffer failure
}

hr = g_pd3dDevice->CreateRenderTargetView(pBackBuffer, nullptr, &g_pRenderTargetView);
pBackBuffer->Release();
if (FAILED(hr)) {
    // Handle render target view creation failure
}

g_pImmediateContext->OMSetRenderTargets(1, &g_pRenderTargetView, nullptr);

Step 4: Set the Viewport

The viewport defines the area of the render target to which Direct3D will draw.

D3D11_VIEWPORT vp;
vp.Width = (FLOAT)800;
vp.Height = (FLOAT)600;
vp.MinDepth = 0.0f;
vp.MaxDepth = 1.0f;
vp.TopLeftX = 0;
vp.TopLeftY = 0;
g_pImmediateContext->RSSetViewports(1, &vp);

Practical Exercise

Exercise: Initialize Direct3D

Create a new Win32 application project.
Include the necessary Direct3D headers.
Follow the steps outlined above to initialize Direct3D.
Compile and run your application to ensure that Direct3D is initialized correctly.

Solution

#include <d3d11.h>
#include <dxgi.h>
#include <d3dcompiler.h>
#include <DirectXMath.h>

// Global Declarations
ID3D11Device* g_pd3dDevice = nullptr;
ID3D11DeviceContext* g_pImmediateContext = nullptr;
IDXGISwapChain* g_pSwapChain = nullptr;
ID3D11RenderTargetView* g_pRenderTargetView = nullptr;

HRESULT InitD3D(HWND hWnd) {
    HRESULT hr = S_OK;

    // Create Device and Device Context
    hr = D3D11CreateDevice(
        nullptr,
        D3D_DRIVER_TYPE_HARDWARE,
        0,
        0,
        nullptr,
        0,
        D3D11_SDK_VERSION,
        &g_pd3dDevice,
        nullptr,
        &g_pImmediateContext
    );
    if (FAILED(hr)) return hr;

    // Create Swap Chain
    DXGI_SWAP_CHAIN_DESC sd;
    ZeroMemory(&sd, sizeof(sd));
    sd.BufferCount = 1;
    sd.BufferDesc.Width = 800;
    sd.BufferDesc.Height = 600;
    sd.BufferDesc.Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM;
    sd.BufferDesc.RefreshRate.Numerator = 60;
    sd.BufferDesc.RefreshRate.Denominator = 1;
    sd.BufferUsage = DXGI_USAGE_RENDER_TARGET_OUTPUT;
    sd.OutputWindow = hWnd;
    sd.SampleDesc.Count = 1;
    sd.SampleDesc.Quality = 0;
    sd.Windowed = TRUE;

    IDXGIDevice* pDXGIDevice = nullptr;
    g_pd3dDevice->QueryInterface(__uuidof(IDXGIDevice), (void**)&pDXGIDevice);

    IDXGIAdapter* pDXGIAdapter = nullptr;
    pDXGIDevice->GetParent(__uuidof(IDXGIAdapter), (void**)&pDXGIAdapter);

    IDXGIFactory* pIDXGIFactory = nullptr;
    pDXGIAdapter->GetParent(__uuidof(IDXGIFactory), (void**)&pIDXGIFactory);

    hr = pIDXGIFactory->CreateSwapChain(g_pd3dDevice, &sd, &g_pSwapChain);
    if (FAILED(hr)) return hr;

    // Create Render Target View
    ID3D11Texture2D* pBackBuffer = nullptr;
    hr = g_pSwapChain->GetBuffer(0, __uuidof(ID3D11Texture2D), (void**)&pBackBuffer);
    if (FAILED(hr)) return hr;

    hr = g_pd3dDevice->CreateRenderTargetView(pBackBuffer, nullptr, &g_pRenderTargetView);
    pBackBuffer->Release();
    if (FAILED(hr)) return hr;

    g_pImmediateContext->OMSetRenderTargets(1, &g_pRenderTargetView, nullptr);

    // Set Viewport
    D3D11_VIEWPORT vp;
    vp.Width = (FLOAT)800;
    vp.Height = (FLOAT)600;
    vp.MinDepth = 0.0f;
    vp.MaxDepth = 1.0f;
    vp.TopLeftX = 0;
    vp.TopLeftY = 0;
    g_pImmediateContext->RSSetViewports(1, &vp);

    return S_OK;
}

Summary

In this section, we covered the essential steps to initialize Direct3D, including creating the Direct3D device and device context, creating the swap chain, creating the render target view, and setting the viewport. These steps form the foundation for any Direct3D application and are crucial for rendering graphics. In the next section, we will learn how to render a simple triangle using Direct3D.

Initializing Direct3D

Key Concepts

Steps to Initialize Direct3D

Step 1: Create the Direct3D Device and Device Context

Step 2: Create the Swap Chain

Step 3: Create the Render Target View

Step 4: Set the Viewport

Practical Exercise

Exercise: Initialize Direct3D

Solution

Summary

DirectX Programming Course

Module 1: Introduction to DirectX

Module 2: Direct3D Basics

Module 3: Working with Shaders

Module 4: Advanced Rendering Techniques

Module 5: 3D Models and Animation

Module 6: Performance Optimization

Module 7: Advanced Topics

Module 8: DirectX in Practice