Details on Effects 11 are available via the associated API documentation (Effect System Interfaces (Direct3D 11)). Microsoft underlined the fact that both components come with support for the new fx_5_0 target. Devs will be able to access Effects 11 via its two parts, namely the D3DCompiler library and FXC.

With the August 2009 DirectX Software Development Kit update, Microsoft is offering developers the new Effects runtime for Direct3D 11. The beta DLLs are no longer available in the DirectX SDK.” In addition, the HLSL compiler features for Direct3D 11 are now of release quality. “ll headers, import libraries, and symbol files (.pdb files) are no longer marked as beta with the ‘_beta’ suffix and now link to the RTM versions of the runtimes. Developers can now publish and distribute Direct3D 11 applications and games that leverage all of the software and hardware features of DirectX 11 in Windows 7 and Windows Vista,” Microsoft noted. “The August 2009 DirectX SDK contains the first official release of the DirectX developer resources for Direct3D 11, DXGI 1.1, Direct2D, and DirectWrite.

Developers are free to grab the SDK via the Microsoft Download Center since September 8, 2009. Essentially, what it is offering is an update for the DirectX software development kit. According to the Redmond-based company, the refreshed DirectX 11 release brings to the table the RTM version of Direct3D. Microsoft has made available for download updated DirectX 11 resources tailored to Windows 7 and Windows Vista, but also additional Windows client and server operating systems.

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