Following is a list of the major features that have been announced to be included in Direct3D 11, the next generation Graphics API included in the DirectX SDK. In my opinion, the changes (rather, additions) brought into this API are excellent so far. It seems as if the API has finally grown up and is in no way, shape or form comparable with older DX versions and deprecates OpenGL 3.0 at this point.

Major Direct3D 11 Features:

1. Compatibility: Ability to run on previous generation hardware (9, 10, 10.1)
2. Multithreading: Resources may be created asynchronously on separate threads.
3. Tesselation: Allows for subdivision surface operations (Fixed Function, not programmable)
4. Compute Shaders: Allows for general programming on the CPU, much like NVIDIA’s CUDA.
5. No Overhaul: Direct3D 11 is a superset of Direct3D 10, no learning curve as with 9 → 10.

A DX11 preview should appear in your November 2008 DirectX SDK. Keep your eyes on this page for GDC 2008 DirectX 11 papers.

Notes
1. Although you may use the Direct3D 11 SDK on older hardware features will naturally be limited to the hardware itself.

I’m happy to announce that the “Direct3D, OpenGL and XNA Fieldguide” is back and improved. The article outlines the pros and cons of the major graphics APIs available and should be a useful reference in the back of every beginner graphics programmer’s mind.

While reading Betsy Aoki’s blog I stumbled upon her post about Gotdotnet being dead. I’m not crying about it, I barely knew that site, but when you go to the old URL you’ll be presented with what seems to be Microsoft’s implementation of a resource dump: the MSDN Code Gallery — which is pretty neat.

Sure, there are only 4 C++ related things so far but if you’re a .NET programmer this site is pretty nifty, it even allows you to post your own snippets or host your own discussion. Of course there’s a huge license you’ll have to obey to and you have to donate your firstborn to Microsoft before posting anything… but that’s besides the point