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DirectShow samples lived under (SDK samples root)\DirectShow\ in the Windows 7.1 SDK, but the Windows 8 SDK does not have the files neither in C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0 nor C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows. The samples are also not for download at http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps

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2 Answers 2

up vote 7 down vote accepted

I believe DirectShow is to be phased out and replaced by Microsoft Media Foundation (MF). I think that's been the intention since Windows Vista, although at that time MF was not capable enough to replace DirectShow. Microsoft representatives have stated that DirectShow will not be supported in Metro UI apps.

I think dshow.h, quartz.dll, etc. are still in the Window 8 SDK kit. However, while Windows 8 will still run DirectShow programs in a normal desktop, it might be that DirectShow samples will never be included in the Windows 8 SDK or new Windows Dev Center because it is considered deprecated. I could not find anything stating this definitively, but most information about MF seems to indicate that DirectShow is not a way forward, and there was a lot of clean-up and removal of obsolete artifacts from the Windows 8 SDK.

Anecdotal References:

Related Download Links:

Fwiw, there are a few unofficial samples using DirectShow in the Windows Dev Center.

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Have you tried Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows 8 (desktop and Win32 apps)?

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I think I already had installed that link, but I reinstalled just in case. There's a shortcut at C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Shortcuts\DesktopDevCenterSamples that points to code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsdesktop but I couldn't find the directshow samples there. –  Bruno Martinez Nov 2 '12 at 21:13
Right, the Samples page points to the SDK which points you back at the samples page. –  user1157123 Feb 28 '13 at 12:44

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