directx

hey people,

can i ask a really dumb question, what exactly is directX? what does it do? what it is for? how do you get it? and how do u use it?

thanks
Rubber band boy

1/2/3) DirectX is a collection of tools used primarily for game programming but can be used for other purposes, it allows direct access to the hardware improving a programs performance

4) Its free from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com)'s DirectX Website (www.microsoft.com/DirectX/), although it's not neccessary for programming with DirectX but the SDK is avaliable from MSDN (msdn.microsoft.com)

5)There are plenty of tutorials (http://www.exhedra.com/DirectX4VB/) on the Internet and samples in the SDK