As a developer, I would like to see Managed DirectX on the web. Without high security issues, Managed DirectX can act like a high-end multimedia tool for user-controls especially on ASP.NET. Is there a need I can think of a few. Java had Java3D, JOGL (opengl for Java), etc. that could be used as games online and the such. A fine example is Runescape at the following url of screenshots:
http://www.runescape.com/screenshots/screenshots.ws
Since Java seems to excel in this, why wouldn't Microsoft add such a multimedia port to IExplorer, for example I can only see the web becoming much more alive with such a task. Games, simulations, etc. with a fast graphics API on the web would be very benefitial. Right now I'm stuck with GDI+ for user-controls. Lets add more multimedia functionality to the web.
Phil
MDX Suggestion for Microsoft
Atmapuri
I've had emails probably averaging one per month regarding this over the last 18 months. The scary ones are the guys who ask me how they can turn of Code Access Security on their users machines so that 'they don't get the stupid security dialog'.
Unfortunately the answer is that right now its not a direction that Microsoft appear to be taking Managed DirectX. By default DirectX gives a pretty low access to the system so in it current state it cannot ethically be marked as safe. In the same way that parts of the .Net framework have been made safe to use with low CAS settings such as IE (e.g. IsolatedStorage is a safe wrapper around the file system) then the same could be done with MDX. This would require a *lot* more testing and given the choice I would personally place a higher priority on better documentation and faster MDX 2.0 releases and Managed D3D10.
There are a few solutions (none pleasant):
1. Write an ActiveX control - users are mostly aware of the fact that they are making a security decision and IE does as good a job possible warning you. You will have to pay for a signing authority though to make it look official
2. Use a different technology - Java or Flash (though both still have to have you download something at some point so some end users may not want t on the machine)
3. Wait for WPF.... I have not tried it but I assume there is some architecture where you can download a XAML file/application over the web and have it do some 3d rendering. Its not high end shader driven stuff but its one option to investigate.
4. *IF* (and only *IF*, IMO) your application is running inside a corporate intranet, then you can use group policy to change the security settings on users machines to accept certain applications as safe. Then those applications would be able to run with different security settings. This sort of strategy would require you to have network administrators and IT security folk who understand and can review and approve everything and understand the implications. There is no group policy in internet land and end users smart enough to understand and change their own CAS settings are the sort of users who understand why you should never do it!
And finally if you think this is something that MDX should support then directx@microsoft.com is the official channel for bugs and feature requests.