DirectX 10 Tutorials - Primer

Sooo... I like to play games and I like to write code. What's the natural progression?

Of course, it's learning graphics programming!

The target under our proverbial crossXhairs will be Microsoft's DirectX10.

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The tutorials included in the SDK documentation are excellent and are required reading.

I'm not here to reinvent the wheel, and I certainly won't be doing that in the tutorials I write. Rather, I'll be regurgitating, reinterpreting, recycling, and giving a different or extra viewpoint and insight on the topics covered in the SDK tutorials.

My focus will mainly be on the code that gets the job. Both from a function call standpoint and also from an architectural-behind-the-scenes view.

The code provided in the SDK tutorials is splashed with minimal, straight to the point, commenting. Like I do in my own code, I'll be adding copious comments as a way to segment functionality and to provide an extra level of understanding for the reader (after all, our code will be read by someone else right?).

For you visual learners out there (myself included), I'll be creating some snazzy Visio diagrams.

Finally, at the end of each tutorial, I'll suggest and provide experiments. These will consist of sections of code to change or fiddle around with. What better way is there to learn then to get your hands dirty and see what happens? Once you're able to predict outcomes and understand anomalies, you're really getting it.

Whew... what a long winded introduction. Stay tuned for some actual learning.

~Elmer

Red Escape Key. What's in a name?

Red Escape Key?

Topre Realforce 87U. Enough said.

http://leopold.co.kr/?doc=cart/item.php&it_id=1237185827

The Topre manufactured 87U, in addition to the other Realforce models, and the PFU Systems made Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro (HHKB) are widely considered some of the best keyboards around.

Not only do they deliver some of the best performance, reliability, quality, and typing 'feel' in a keyboard, they also provide users with a few customization options. One of which, happens to be a Red Escape Key :)

If you often wile the hours away in front of a computer, you owe it to yourself to get a good keyboard.

Do I own one of these beauties? Unfortunately no.

I have 2 keyboards in my stable that I employ. The first is the venerable IBM Model M. You might recognize it as the clicky keyboard. You know, the one in the office making all the clickity-clackety racket. My particular model has a born-on date of 23FEB88. The 2nd keyboard is Steelseries steelkeys 6G gaming keyboard. More information on both to come in later blog entries.

But, back to the Realforce, my Realforce. Someday the UPS driver will be gracious enough to drop one off at my doorstep... someday.

~Elmer

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In case I have released the inner keyboard geek in you, check out http://geekhack.org/ for more keyboard goodness.

Hello World!

Hello and welcome to the Red Escape Key blog.

Here you'll find a window, a peek, and sometimes a gaping opening into my and my families' daily comings and goings here in the emerald sprawl that is Seattle.

In addition, you'll get your full share of geek-dome. I'm an aspiring programmer and will be using the blog to document and write about new and cool technologies that I am playing with and learning to use.

Of course, I'll happily deluge you with pictures, gadgets, games, hardware, software, and a variety of random topics and ideas.

What do you say? Join me. Leave a comment, write a story, tell me my code sucks (... and how I can make it better)! Just don't be a stranger.

~Elmer

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A note on 'Hello World!' for those of you who have never taken a programming course. Typically when learning a new programming language, the first program you learn to write will be one that prints the text "Hello World!" somewhere onto the screen.