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long time ago. my entire country pretty much runs on windows and directx is used a lot. but i would only do it again if i had a shit ton of time and nothing else to do.

Given the lack of game development tools during the DirectX9 era, that's understandable. But looking at what's available today, it sounds like a useless, unpractical nightmare.

lol maybe not completely useless. it's worth learning and getting closer to "how things actually work". i'm able to use unity more effectively because of it. but yes going lower level is usually a f-ing nightmare.