filename up to the extension and creating a new filename

Just dropping this here for now.

void getFilenameWithNoExtensionAndCreateANewFilename()
{
char *arg= (char *)"foobar_filename.ppm";
char output_filename[256];

char* ptrToPPMStart = NULL;
char* ptrCopyFrom = NULL;

char buf[80] = { 0 };
int i = 0;

ptrCopyFrom = arg;
ptrToPPMStart = strrchr(arg, '.');

while (ptrCopyFrom != ptrToPPMStart) 
{
// printf("copying %c\n", *ptrCopyFrom);
buf[i] = *ptrCopyFrom;
i++;
ptrCopyFrom++;

}

buf[i] = '\0';

printf("%s\n", buf);


strcpy_s(output_filename, "output_");

//from this create a new filename
strcat_s(output_filename, arg);

printf("output_filename: %s\n", output_filename);
}

Allocating of heap memory inside function with doubly nested pointers

just a cut/paste of template/pattern code here so i don't have to spend 10 minutes dancing with the compiler.

#include
#include
#include

#define SIZE 10

void fooAllocator(unsigned int** image)
{
*image = (unsigned int *) malloc(SIZE * sizeof(unsigned int));

if (*image != NULL) //resolves MSVC compiler error, just a little test before the real loop
{
(*image)[7] = 14;
}
for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++)
{
(*image)[i] = 66;
}
}

void fooWriter(unsigned int* image)
{
for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++)
{
image[i] = 42;
}
}

void printImage(unsigned int* image)
{
for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++)
{
printf("[%d]=%d\n", i, image[i]);
}
}

int main()
{
unsigned int* image = NULL;

//function that allocates memory for image
fooAllocator(&image);
printImage(image);
fooWriter(image);
printImage(image);

for (int i = 0; i < SIZE; i++)
{
image[i] = 36;
}

printImage(image);
return 1;
}

Used espresso machines

https://coffeemachinedepotusa.com/used-coffee-machines.html

multidimensional arrays in C on heap

For future reference I have 3D arrays below as sample snippet


//want to work on a 3D array on the heap
//first lest get a single then a 2D array working correctly on the heap

#define IMAGE_WIDTH 4
#define IMAGE_HEIGHT 3
#define CHANNELS 2

void experiment6()
{
int* array1D = NULL;
int* array2D = NULL;
int* array3D = NULL;

array1D = (int*)malloc(IMAGE_WIDTH * sizeof(int));
for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_WIDTH; i++)
{
array1D[i] = i;
}
for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_WIDTH; i++)
{
printf("[%d]=%d ",i, array1D[i]);
}

printf("\n");

array2D = (int*)malloc(IMAGE_WIDTH * IMAGE_HEIGHT * sizeof(int));
for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_HEIGHT; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < IMAGE_WIDTH;j++)
{
array2D[i * IMAGE_WIDTH + j ] = i * IMAGE_WIDTH + j;
}
}
for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_HEIGHT; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < IMAGE_WIDTH; j++)
{
printf("[%d]=%d ", i * IMAGE_WIDTH + j, array2D[i * IMAGE_WIDTH + j]);
}
printf("\n");
}

array3D = (int*)malloc(IMAGE_WIDTH * IMAGE_HEIGHT * CHANNELS * sizeof(int));
for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_HEIGHT; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < IMAGE_WIDTH; j++)
{
for (int k = 0; k < CHANNELS; k++)
{
array3D[(i* IMAGE_WIDTH * CHANNELS) + (CHANNELS*j) + k] = (i * IMAGE_WIDTH  * CHANNELS) + (CHANNELS * j) + k;
//printf("%d ", i * IMAGE_WIDTH * CHANNELS + CHANNELS*j + k);

}
}
}

for (int i = 0; i < IMAGE_HEIGHT; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < IMAGE_WIDTH; j++)
{
for (int k = 0; k < CHANNELS; k++)
{
// array2D[(i * IMAGE_WIDTH  CHANNELS) + (CHANNELS * j) + k] = (i * IMAGE_WIDTH * CHANNELS) + (CHANNELS * j) + k;
printf("[%d] = %d ", i * IMAGE_WIDTH * CHANNELS + CHANNELS*j + k, array3D[(i * IMAGE_WIDTH * CHANNELS) + (CHANNELS * j) + k]);
}
}
printf("\n");
}


if (array1D != NULL) 
{
free(array1D);
}
if (array2D != NULL)
{
free(array2D);
}
if (array3D != NULL)
{
free(array3D);
}


}

git (gitlab) windows password reset not propagated correctly

After you change your password, this doesn't propagate to the windows credential manager passwords. I went and manually modified each one and that seems to work.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/47860772/gitlab-remote-http-basic-access-denied-and-fatal-authentication

Even easier for me:
Had a bunch of tokens, removed them all related to git repos in windows credential manager. Exit and restarted sourcetree. Forces a request for a new token.

debugging with symbols (VTune)

good article here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/debugging-with-symbols

I used this syntax:
srv*c:\temp\msft\symbols*https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols

looks like it worked.

This article makes you think you can get nvidia symbols, but you can't if you read it carefully. They are just using that server to allow retroactive driver binaries to be pulled.
https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-driver-symbol-server

snp500 PE ratio, shiller ratio, etc.

https://www.multpl.com/s-p-500-pe-ratio

Until I find a better one.

vsync enable/disable

type: nvidia control panel, find vsync

Echoing cmd line in a custom build step

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17098788/echo-on-for-a-post-build-event-batch-file-in-visual-studio-2012

Unsigned Shader Code

If you get this error:

D3D12 WARNING: ID3D12ShaderBytecode::CreatePipelineState: Shader is corrupt or in an unrecognized format, or is not signed. Ensure that DXIL.dll is used to sign the shader. This shader and PSO containing it will not be validated. [ EXECUTION WARNING #1243: NON_RETAIL_SHADER_MODEL_WONT_VALIDATE]

Head over here to Graham Wihlidal's blog to understand: https://www.wihlidal.com/blog/pipeline/2018-09-16-dxil-signing-post-compile/

Link to his tool here: https://github.com/gwihlidal/dxil-signing

Note this is not going to help if you are trying to compile a (for example) 6.4 shader on a platform that does not yet support 6.4. This is probably a good thing.

Making a DX12 'Hello World' Starting Point from D3D2HelloWorld Samples

To create a very basic starting point DX12 Visual Studio based on the D3D12 Samples SDK codebase (branching from friendly developer license code as starting point):

Update for Visual Studio 2019:

• create an x64 project, unicode looks like default
• didn't need the win32 preprocessor defn below.
• did need the libs
• did need to change the subystem to windows
• did need to disable shaders.hlsl compilation

Visual Studio 2017

Create a console application (File->New Project->Empty Project)

Pull in .cpp, .c, and .hlsl files from D3DFramebuffer (my feeling is this is the best base case due to correct render loop that does not block on previous frames Present call before starting to build command list for next frame).

Changed to an x64 build environment

On the project, walked the 'full compiler options' and the 'full linker options'

Compiler:

1. Change character set to unicode from multibyte
2. Add  'WIN32' to preprocessor definitions

Linker:

1. Add d3d12.lib, d3dcompiler.lib, and dxgi.lib to the set of files to link to
2. Change subsystem to  'Windows' 
3. Disabled compilation of shaders.hlsl by Visual studio

Change the lines that compile the shaders from this:

 ThrowIfFailed(D3DCompileFromFile(GetAssetFullPath(L"shaders.hlsl").c_str(), nullptr, nullptr, "VSMain", "vs_5_0", compileFlags, 0, &vertexShader, nullptr));

 ThrowIfFailed(D3DCompileFromFile(GetAssetFullPath(L"shaders.hlsl").c_str(), nullptr, nullptr, "PSMain", "ps_5_0", compileFlags, 0, &pixelShader, nullptr));

To this:

ThrowIfFailed(D3DCompileFromFile(L"shaders.hlsl", nullptr, nullptr, "VSMain", "vs_5_0", compileFlags, 0, &vertexShader, nullptr));

ThrowIfFailed(D3DCompileFromFile(L"shaders.hlsl", nullptr, nullptr, "PSMain", "ps_5_0", compileFlags, 0, &pixelShader, nullptr));

Note: I am sure GetAssetFullPath is useful, probably esp. in remote debug cases. Will circle back to this later.

imgui for DX12 hints

command line, in a visual studio window, builds the .objs but does not create a .exe. Did not resolve.

was able to pull in the project for the visual studio solution into the main solution for the imgui project. i used that to create build the project. i got a runtime error on line 384:

    // Store our identifier
//    static_assert(sizeof(ImTextureID) >= sizeof(g_hFontSrvGpuDescHandle.ptr), "Can't pack descriptor handle into TexID, 32-bit not supported yet.");

commented this out to get the basic sample running and it did not crash.

useful to at least investigate/learn more about imgui with DX12

Sinus infection doctor recommendations

	Fri
	AM	PM
aleve/advil	X
mucinex	X
sudafed	X	X (don't take after 3pm)
clariten	X	X (via 24hr version)
nedi pot

HLSL vector and matrix per-component 101

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-per-component-math

Vectors and Matrices and the various ways we can use the notation.

DirectX coordinate systems

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/direct3d10/d3d10-graphics-programming-guide-resources-coordinates

Movie Maker paths for projects

Wow....they think this is secret...impossible to find via the GUI. It will be something like this:

C:\Users\atlake.AMR\AppData\Local\Packages\21336V3TApps.MovieMaker-PRO_bzg06mxvgh4fa\LocalState\Projects

Building UE4 and a .NET error

Building UE4 and got an error about .NET. instead of tracking down a .NET specific issue, resolution was to update my Visual Studio and include the .NET tools. Not doing whatever the long winded stack overflow comments suggested.

Driver Reset in Windows

Got all choked up on your driver? try this: ctrl-shift-windows+b

ack to Marissa Du Bois for the pointer.

French Toast Recipe

French toast recipe

8 eggs

1 and 1/3 cup of milk

Vanilla to taste (I use ~1.5 ozs IIRC) Too little and you won't taste it. Too much and you get too much vanilla. Can also try almond syrup.
1 Lovejoy Bakeries Brioche loaf

Mix together the above ingredients.

Cut brioche loaf into 8 slices. You will have the ends left over. Also each slice is about as thick as the diameter of a nickel, then just pitch the ends or use them for something else. Don't try to make more slices because you won't have enough batter for good coverage.

Dip each piece of bread for 10 seconds on each side into the bowl.

Using a cookie sheet, lay out each piece to let the batter soak in.

Take the rest of the leftover batter and pour it over the pieces especially in spots that look like they need it. 

Wait 20 minutes, then flip over each piece and wait another 20 minutes. This ensures gravity has a chance to work on both sides.

Cook on a griddle at between 325 and 350 degrees for 3 minutes on each side.

Serve with toppings of choice. 

FLOPS of consoles over time...

Ack to Darrel Palke for the link:

https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/console-gpu-power-compared-ranking-systems-by-flop/2900-1334/15/

MBP stability with 3 external displays

Not totally root caused, but making this note to myself: When attaching a 3rd external 4k display I was able to get it to work but came home from dinner after entire rebuild and hours (not days) of stability to a BSOD. Rebooting and it seems that 3rd external display seems to wreak havoc. Went back to 2 external and using the laptop display for still 3 total. Recall the reason for my entire rebuild was when pulling out the same 4k display adapter that cause me to lose audio and Skype abilities....just deciding to stay away from a 3rd external display for now. Not worth the issues ATM.

Maybe total video bandwidth issues? Working past thermal limits where there wasn't adequate testing of drivers?  Cheap external 4k display? Cheap external adapters from USB-C to DP and/or HDMI (both seemed to create problems).

no time to root cause, solved the problem short term and moved on.

update: 2/11/19, stable after one week by going to the 2 external+laptop display vs. the 3 external.

reboot for unsigned drivers

placeholder.

also, if you ever get the little 'warning' sign next to the driver in device manager, it may because you are trying to use an unsigned driver on an OEM system.

https://www.howtogeek.com/167723/how-to-disable-driver-signature-verification-on-64-bit-windows-8.1-so-that-you-can-install-unsigned-drivers/

https://www.howtogeek.com/126016/three-ways-to-access-the-windows-8-boot-options-menu/

realize new 'advanced options menu' you need to select 'see more options' to get to the Startup Settings' unlike the description above.