newbie question

[whocares]

Hey I'm a newbie, and I'm confused about what some of the terms u people use, like DirectX and the GDI32, API What are those, what do they do?

[abdul]

Directx is a set of functions/structures that allow you do fast graphic routines including 3D. It's very slow using simple drawing functions (like circle, line, point, etc). Directx API is contained in some DLL files that you can use in VB, C++, and some other programming languages that can act as COM clients. Most of the commercial quality games are made in Directx.
GDI32 is part of Windows API. It's, again, a set of functions that allow you to perform drawing/graphic operations but it's still not as good as Directx. Some very basic games are made in GDI. It is also used to create paths, regions, brushes, pens, etc.
API is a set of function that allow you perform at a certain action. API stands for Application Program Interface. All operating systems have a set of API calls that you use to access hardware (eg harddisk to open/manipulate files), create windows, draw stuff, and everything else. API that you use in Windows is called Windows API.

[whocares]

thx