Introduction to the DirectX 9 High Level Shading Language

BANGALORE, INDIA: One of the most empowering new components of DirectX 9 is the High Level Shading Language (HLSL). Using this standard high level language, shader writers are able to think at the algorithm level while implementing shaders, rather than worry about meddlesome hardware details such as register allocation, register read-port limits, instruction co-issuing and so on.

In addition to freeing the developer from hardware details, the HLSL also has all of the usual advantages of a high level language such as easy code reuse, improved readability and the presence of an optimizing compiler.

Many of the chapters in this book and in the ShaderX2 - Shader Tips & Tricks book will utilize shaders which are written in HLSL. As a result, it will be much easier for you to understand and work with those shaders after reading this introductory chapter.

In this chapter, we will outline the basic structure of the language itself as well as strategies for integrating HLSL shaders into your application.

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