Silk.NET D3D Discussion

[ykafia]

So we can chat about the Direct3D Silk.NET switch here

related to PR
#1123

[ykafia]

I'm at a point where we could use the latest specification for direct x (version is 1.6). Originally Stride is handling only 1.0 to 1.2. (that's the feature level values).

Should we keep the same feature levels, add 1.3 to 1.6 or just keep 1.6?

From what i can tell, this would add more preprocessor conditions in classes :

#if DIRECTX11_0
OutputDesc desc;
#elif DIRECTX11_1
OutputDesc1 desc;
#elif DIRECTX11_2
OutputDesc2 desc;
#elif DIRECTX11_3
OutputDesc3 desc;
// ...

[ykafia]

My opinion would be that we should support the latest D3D11 specification only (since win11 is rolling out and a lot of older hardware do not seem to be supported + only 5% of windows users are using win7)
and focus on VK/DX12/OGL since the three of them have official support mesh and ray shaders. So i'd love to know any other opinions for confirmation

[Redhacker1]

Another thing I want to point out here is that there are no DX11 Era GPUs in support anymore from Nvidia with the exception of MAYBE a few GT cards. AMD has done much the same as well, I am fairly certain that there are no DX11 only cards either from that point. Pretty much every GPU that even the manufacturers support for gaming are DX12 capable and most were made when the DX12 spec was out, not to mention to support DX12 to begin with you only need FL0/1 and FL1/2

[LeaFrock]

Great. Less historical baggage means faster R&D and promotion.

[GothGirl-Gaming]

hello, I saw this bounty was still unassigned, and I would like to claim it. @stride3d/@stride-contributors

[Eideren]

Someone else already started working on it, see #1715 but looks like they've been busy. I've contacted them and will let you know once I hear back from them

[Ethereal77]

It's almost ready. I've been very busy lately, but I hope to finish the PR as soon as possible, preferably in the coming days.

My plan is to debug some remaining things that are problematic, then update my branch and rebase it on top of main to a version that can be compiled and tested so people can verify there are no regressions and no added issues.

Later, if everything is ok, I'll clean it up a bit and add the documentation I've also been writing (or maybe do that in another PR, whatever is more convenient).