Custom data structures for directx buffers

Question

Do I need to use the DirectXMath structures (XMFLOAT3, XMFLOAT4, XMMATRIX, XMFLOAT4X4, etc.) when I am setting the data for the vertex and constant buffers for a directx application. I have my own Vector3 and Matrix structures and would prefer to use those.

Answer 1

You do not need to use DirectXMath. All you need to do is ensure that the data you write matches the standard (IEEE-754) floating point layout (or whatever other format you have specified). For vector types, just ensure that the elements are in contiguous memory.