For game developers on Windows, Apple has released new Metal developer tools at the WWDC 2020 event. The new set of tools allow Metal Shading Language (MSL) compilation on Windows 10 into Metal Library Objects for Apple platforms. This means that gaming apps built via Metal on Windows PCs will run on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.
Apple will achieve a unified architecture with the transition of new Macs from Intel processors to Apple Silicon. The custom-designed processor opens doors for the company to offer new technologies, security features, and performance improvements with macOS Big Sur, similar to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.
Even in the transition phase, Apple has introduced iPhone like features with macOS Big Sur like new widgets, control center, voice memos app, messages, and more. More importantly, Apple Silicon Macs will be more secure machines with iPhone-like security enhancements.
Metal Developer Tools
The graphics framework offers developers direct access to graphics processing units and equips them with tools to maximize the graphical performance of apps and games on Apple platforms.
The description of the framework reads:
“Metal provides near-direct access to the graphics processing unit (GPU), enabling you to maximize the graphics and compute potential of your apps on iOS, macOS, and tvOS. Building on an approachable, low-overhead architecture with precompiled GPU shaders, fine-grained resource control, and multithreading support, Metal further evolves support for GPU-driven command creation, simplifies working with the array of Metal-capable GPUs, and lets you tap into Pro power of Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR”.
Although this year’s WWDC was an online event, Apple educated developers on the tools and documentation required to design innovative apps via insightful and detailed video sessions. The company also released ‘Apple Developer App‘ for Mac with a WWDC section to watch the event and various sessions.
Registered Apple developers can download the framework from here.
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