C++ Builder Visual Components wrapping DirectX

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    TECHNOLOGY COMMENT
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        TECH COMMENT...

    Read what our end-users Think...

    Well, as far as Borland C++ Builder goes, it's blindingly good technology.
    So are Microsoft's DirectX SDK's.

    They are both "best of breed" technologies.

    ...

    By seamlessly blending these two technologies together, the TDx_Library just makes it all
    incredibly simple, incredibly powerful, mind-numbing actually.

    This technology, the TDx_Library, is years ahead of anything ever invented before.

    It's "best of breed" too, only better.

    ...

    So, what is better?

    DirectX 7.0a
    DirectX 8
    DirectX 9.0c
    DirectX 10+?

    A: Well, it all depends on what you need really...

    DirectX 7.0a is fantastic, it works on all Windows platforms, ie. 95,98,ME,CE,NT,2000,XP,VISTA,7,8,10.
    DirectX 8 is buggy, it does not work with C++ Builder at all.
    DirectX 9.0c is fantastic, it works on Windows XP and Vista+, it does not work with C++ Builder at all.
    DirectX 10+ is only for Windows Vista+, so it's no help right now, it does not work with C++ Builder at all.

    Of the two products we would consider fantastic, DirectX 7.0a and DirectX 9.0c,
    we've already converted the DirectX 7.0a SDK into >WORKING< RAD VCL component libraries for BCB,
    so that's pretty good.

    DirectX 7.0a covers 2D+3D Graphics, Sound FX+Music+Recording, Force-Feedback Devices, MultiUser Networking.

    DirectX 9.0c covers almost exactly the same things, but it's 2D graphics capabilities are exactly the same
    as in DirectX 7.0a, and it has no multi-user networking support.

    Both DirectX 7.0a and DirectX 9.0c contain additional functionality not in the other SDK.

    Me personally, I prefer the DirectX 7.0a SDK, because I find it's much easier to learn, it works with BCB,
    it's much easier to navigate the help files, much easier to develop with, quicker, stronger, and more robust.

    ...

    So, what is better?

    COM Programming
    Win32 Programming
    RAD/VCL Programming

    A: Well, depends on what you are good at really.

    If you are good at anything, then RAD/VCL is by far the easiest to use, the quickest,
    and is capable of producing the most results.

    If you are fantastic at COM or Win32 programming, then maybe you could stick with those,
    or you could try something new.

    The future is all about RAD development, so the C++ Builder VCL wins hands down, in terms
    of ease-of-use and programmer productivity.

    ...

    So, what about C++ Builder?

    C++ Builder v1
    C++ Builder v3
    C++ Builder v4
    C++ Builder v5
    C++ Builder v6
    C++ Builder BDS 2006++

    A: Well, really, any version of C++ Builder is better than any other compiler.

    BDS 2006 requires Windows XP, although BCB v1..v6 work on any Windows version.

    Having tried all flavours of C++ Builder, I tend to prefer C++ Builder v1,
    because it's the most simplest and quickest. It loads as quickly as wordpad.

    As more functionality has been added to the various versions of C++ Builder, I've noticed
    that i spend most of my time doing RAD DirectX, which is identical on all compilers,
    including BDS 2006++

    ...

    So, what about Windows?

    Windows 95,98,ME
    Windows CE
    Windows NT,2000
    Windows XP
    Windows Vista
    Windows 7
    Windows 8
    Windows 10
    Windows 11

    A: Our software works perfectly on these platforms, because it's exactly the same code, and executables.

    Having tried all flavours of Windows, I tend to prefer Windows ME or XP or 10,
    because it's the most simplest and by far the quickest, and by far the most stable.

    This entire website, The TDx_Library and the BCB_Code_Generator were originally developed on Windows ME,
    and is now developed on Windows XP and Windows 10.

    ...

    What it all boils down to is :-

    • It's all about performance.
    • It's all about productivity.
    • It's all about functionality.

    I regularly use many versions of C++ Builder and Windows ME, XP, 10, and DirectX 7.0a.
    I have previously used Windows 95, 98 and XP extensively.

    My Personal Choice after years of experimentation is that C++ Builder and DirectX 7
    work best on Windows XP (...or as a VirtualBox on a later version of windows).

    The original DirectX 9 SDK's were compatible with Windows ME, but version 9.0c is not compatible
    with Windows ME at all, only working on XP or above.

    When using Windows ME, I find that C++ Builder v1 is best and DirectX 7.0a is best.
    When using Windows XP++, I find that C++ Builder (any version) is best and DirectX 7.0a is best.







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