Current Events > What the fuck is DirectX

(+) Yeah! (+)

Why do I have to install this thing like every time for every game? Shouldn't there just be one DirectX for everything else? Why does everything have its own DirectX? Shit's crazy

DirectX allows games to access resources without writing all of the red tape that the operating system requires for normal applications

DirectX lets games run faster, but without all of the safety measures that protect against crashes

When Microsoft Windows first launched, most game developers told players to run in text DOS mode, not in Windows mode, because Windows required too much red tape, and it was making the games too slow. Microsoft was angry that game developers rejected Windows, so Microsoft created DirectX for games to run fast

don't worry about it

A long time ago if you made a PC game you used to have to make multiple versions literally for different hardware configurations. You'll often find on older dos games especially installation menus asking you about your video and sound cards.

Direct X automates that process so you only have to write code for Direct X instead of 5 different possible video cards.

As for why everything makes you "install direct X again" this is strictly a not necessary step but many games aren't tested to work outside of the direct X version that they were compiled on and the only way to make sure you have those exact binaries is to install direct X again.

The alternative is trusting the user to know which direct X versions are installed and how to get a specific version that they need.

there are many versions of DirectX -- game code. Different games were written with different DirectXs

You can install it once and then decline the other installations. You only need it once.

It is the opposite of IndirectX.