microsoft/directx-graphics-samples

This repository from Microsoft contains a collection of sample programs showing how to use DirectX 12, a graphics programming interface built into Windows 10. DirectX 12 is the low-level system that video games and other graphically intensive applications use to talk to the GPU. The samples here are intended for developers who want to learn how to write code that takes advantage of modern graphics hardware. Each sample is designed to demonstrate one specific feature in isolation. For example, one sample covers raytracing, which is a technique for producing realistic lighting by simulating how light bounces around a scene. Another covers mesh shaders, which change how 3D geometry is processed on the GPU. Another covers variable rate shading, a technique that reduces the detail in less important parts of the screen to improve performance without much visible quality loss. The goal is to let a developer study a single concept without needing to understand the rest of the system first. Alongside the standalone samples, the repository also includes something called MiniEngine, described as a starter kit for building a 3D application. MiniEngine provides ready-made code for common tasks such as text rendering, camera handling, texture loading, shader management, and input from a keyboard, mouse, or game controller. A developer could use it as a foundation to build a new 3D project rather than writing all that infrastructure from scratch. Running the samples requires Windows 10, Visual Studio 2019, and the matching Windows 10 SDK. Some samples additionally require a GPU that supports DirectX 12 Ultimate features such as raytracing. The repository is maintained by Microsoft and accepts contributions via pull requests.