AIR renderMode GPU vs renderMode direct

Question

When developing an AIR app for mobile application can someone explain to me the differences between using renderMode = GPU vs renderMODE = direct and when you would use either?

Answer 1

Please feel free to correct me but this is my understanding. There are 2 components in the display pipeline

1. Rendering
2. Compositing

There are 3 renderModes possible with Flash/AIR

1. CPU
2. GPU
3. DIRECT

With CPU, BOTH Compositing and Rendering are handled by the CPU/software. With GPU, Compositing is handled by the GPU/hardware and Rendering is still handled by CPU/software

DIRECT is the opposite of GPU mode in that Compositing is handled by the CPU/software and Rendering is handled by the GPU/hardware.

GPU mode benefits most from partial blitting, CPU mode from stage blitting and benefits from DIRECT mode come only if targeting Stage3D, either directly or indirectly via a framework like Starling or Away3D.

Conversely if targeting Stage3D, you must use renderMode=DIRECT