This post concerns more than just directx so I didn't post it in the directx forum. I got the academic version of Visual Studio .NET and learned some directx because I want to distribute my games on the internet, I haven't yet decided if I'm going to release them as shareware or freeware, but that's besides my point. What bothered me slightly is when I found out that there are runtimes required to run programs made in .net and directx. It just seems kind of inconvenient for a user to have to download two runtimes to run a game. Anyway, I'm wondering about a few things: Are there other programming environments that do not require runtimes? For instance, does the Borland C++ compiler produce programs that require a runtime? Is it difficult to migrate from Visual Studio .net directx programming to programs written with Borland or other compilers and directx? I know of three C++ compilers: Microsoft .NET, which I have, but requires a runtime Borland, I do not know if it requires a runtime djgpp, which is free but only produces DOS programs Any other compilers to choose from that someone knows of? also, if I choose to stay with .NET what happens a few years down the road when Microsoft changes their compiler and the current .NET runtime is not available at their web site? Will my .NET programs run under the new compiler's runtime? Does Microsoft allow developers to distribute the .net runtime on their own, and how is that done if it's possible? I have the same question about directx - when directx 10 comes out, will directx 9 programs run with the directx 10 runtime? Graphics packages- I know of three: directx of course, which requires a runtime but it's small and can be packaged with a game according to what I read in a game programming book opengl - does it require a runtime and what package would I use for sound if I did opengl? fastgraph, which is expensive, and if I remember correctly (and I may be remembering incorrectly) does not require a runtime.. what other graphics packages are there? Without knowing all the answers to the questions I have written above, it seems that I might want to try djgpp with fastgraph, although I'd be concerned that windows eventually will not be able to run DOS programs. In my understanding even though Windows XP doesn't have DOS anymore, it still can run DOS programs. However, if I were to do this I would be throwing away all that work that I spent learning directx.. I don't know, I would consider it, but I'm still not sure - I just want to know what options are out there. Any answers/helpful suggestions? [Edited by - jimiwa on January 4, 2005 6:54:32 PM]

Executables made with .NET don't require the .NET runtime unless you make use of that specific functionality. In other words, unless there's some restriction in the academic version that I am unaware of, you can still build standalone DirectX apps that only require DirectX. If you did choose to use the .NET runtime for some reason, I am under the impression that they allow you to redistribute it with your app anyway. No doubt someone more knowledgable than I in .NET stuff will post below.

Although I expect VS.NET is fine for your needs, the main other compiler you might consider is MinGW, ideally packaged as part of Dev-C++. In my experience it's a bit more awkward to set up for games development but it's based on GCC which is an open source compiler, therefore available on multiple platforms and will be around forever.

Windows XP already has problems with some DOS games, but I don't think that's relevant here unless you used DJGPP and there's really almost no reason why you'd want to do that.

The OpenGL 'runtime' I believe tends to be installed as part of your graphic card's drivers (or at least the latest version does). So there is less to distribute there. But remember that DirectX is more than just a graphics subsystem. Some games use OpenGL for graphics and DirectX for input, sound, etc.

There are many other simpler graphics libraries listed in the library link in my signature, however I think that almost without exception they rely on DirectX or OpenGL at the low level for performance reasons.

so can someone tell me if there's a way
to make my .net programs run without a runtime?
(academic version)
if I can't make my programs run without a runtime
does Microsoft allow developers to
ship the runtime with the game?

if you compile a NON-MANAGED C++ application the only runtime you require is 2 dlls, which you are allowed to ship, and then only if you compile with the 'multi-thread dll' runtime library.

However, if you use anything .Net related (C#, VB.Net, Managed C++) then the end user needs the .Net framework installed for it to run.

I still don't know what managed and unmanaged means.
Could someone explain that to me?
What are the 2 dll's required?

so because I have the academic version I'm not going
to be able to sell my games?

Quote:Original post by jimiwa
I still don't know what managed and unmanaged means.
Could someone explain that to me?
What are the 2 dll's required?

so because I have the academic version I'm not going
to be able to sell my games?

Managed means you get to call 'new' all the live-long day and never have to call 'delete' and the GarbageCollector© will clean it all up for you! This isn't recommended for seriously speed dependent games such as most FPS's.

I don't know what the dll's required are, but you won't need them if you follow some of the other advice given in this thread.

From one of the quotes above though I have a question. With the academic version, I am not allowed to even send someone a copy of an executable I built?