I was wondering about the availability of DDraw in the java graphics sub-system while I tested my demo-app with less than usual 20FPS with the appletviewer. It has been announced for 2008 but it can be checked in the JVM option as Sun recommends it:
sun.java2d.ddforcevram=true
sun.java2d.ddscale=true
How is that working?
My understanding is that ddraw has been used by Java2D for quite some time already, but since DirectDraw is deprecated, they’re focussing on D3D now.
When you say ‘it has been announced for 2008’, maybe you’re referring to the default pipeline for java2d being rewritten to use D3D? (There’s already a D3D pipeline on windows, but it’s not enabled by default for compatibility reasons)
Uh is it about Direct3D being announced in 2008? I thought that it’s been DirectDraw on subject, Nevertheless is DDraw still in use?
Yes DD is in use and is afaik activated by default (I could be wrong here).
Did you profile your app to prove, the gfx-pipeline is the problem? Even if, I think you have to take care of some contraints to really get the hardware accellerated functionality. I am no Java2D expert, but there were some threads regarding volatile images, transparency problems etc. Try to search the forum.
thank you! yes you can check for the option activated in the jnlp listed in my “java web start pool” below: http://broumbroum84mirror3.ifrance.com/jnlp/demos/animationdemo3.jnlp
As you can test it, you will be able to get to know that it is still very minimal VRam capacity that the Java Sub-System allocates to its Threads. I try to get it fluid on full screen, but it really seems to be a threshold at some amount of Video memory of 150x150 clipping. ??? My frame is resizable and it can be reloaded at any time asynchronously. I use JAI + JIIO tools, plus the std opts at starting time.
In 5.0 and below Java2D by default uses DirectDraw on Windows for
many operations.
In 6.0 it uses DirectDraw in windowed mode, and Direct3D (version 7)
in full-screen (if the driver is good enough). It can also be enabled in
windowed mode with a flag.
The problem with current accelerated pipelines is that they
don’t accelerate every operation, some still go through GDI or
software loops.
For the upcoming “consumer JRE” release we’re working on
fully accelerated Direct3D 9-based pipeline, which should
be enabled by default.
Thanks,
Dmitri
Java2D Team
That sounds fantastic!
How will such a pipeline interact with Vista’s accelerated Aero Glass desktop?
Depends on what you mean by “interact”. It should work fine,
just like any other (proper) d3d application on Vista.
Dmitri