712 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
712 lines
30 KiB
Plaintext
// Copyright (c) 2015-2016 Khronos Group. This work is licensed under a
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// Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License; see
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// http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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[[extensions]]
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= Layers & Extensions
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This chapter describes required and recommended processes for writing formal
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extensions and layers for the Vulkan API.
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It is concerned with processes and registration, while fine-grained naming
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conventions are included in the <<naming,API Naming Conventions chapter>>.
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Prior to revision 1.0.19 of the <<vulkan-spec,Vulkan API Specification>>,
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most of the content in this chapter existed as part of Appendix C of that
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document.
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[NOTE]
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.Note
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====
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The mechanism and process of specifying extensions is subject to change, as
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we receive feedback from authors and further requirements of documentation
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tooling.
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This document will be updated as changes are made.
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====
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== Introduction
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The Khronos extension registries and extension naming conventions serve
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several purposes:
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* Avoiding naming collisions between extensions developed by mutually
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unaware parties, both in the extension names themselves, as well as
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their token, command, and type names.
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* Allocating enumerant values for tokens added by extensions
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* Creating a defined order between extensions.
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Extensions with higher numbers may have dependencies upon extensions
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with lower numbers, and must define any relevant interactions with
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lower-numbered extensions.
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* Provides a central repository for documentation and header changes
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associated with extensions
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Vulkan's design and general software development trends introduces two new
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paradigms that require rethinking the existing mechanisms:
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* Layers, and with them a focus on a more open ecosystem where non-Khronos
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members are expected to extend a Khronos API using the Layer mechanism.
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* Namespaced constants (enumerations) that do not necessarily draw from a
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single global set of token values.
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== General Rules/Guidelines
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Some general rules to simplify the specific rules below:
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* Extensions and layers must each have a globally unique name.
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* All commands and tokens must have a globally unique name.
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* Extensions can expose new commands, types, and/or tokens, but layers
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must not.
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** However, layers can expose their own extensions, which in turn are
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allowed to expose new commands and tokens.
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* All extensions must be registered with Khronos.
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* Extensions must be strictly additive and backwards-compatible.
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That is, extensions must not remove existing functionality, or change
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existing default behaviors.
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A Vulkan implementation may support any combination of extensions, but
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applications written using only the core API, or a subset of the
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supported extensions, must continue to work in such an implementation
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without changes in behavior.
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[[extensions-naming-conventions]]
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== Extension and Layer Naming Conventions
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Extensions and layers have formal _names_.
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These names are used in a variety of places:
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* When specifying extensions and layers to enable in the API.
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* As a preprocessor symbol in the +vulkan.h+ header file indicating that
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an extension interface is defined at compile time.
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* To control building the Vulkan Specification from asciidoc source
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containing many extension, by explicitly enabling inclusion of one or
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more extensions.
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[NOTE]
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.Note
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====
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In version 1.0.24 and earlier versions of the Vulkan Specification,
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extensions were maintained in separate git branches from the core
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Specification source.
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This proved to be unwieldy and difficult to maintain as the core was
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repeatedly updated, and as of version 1.0.25, we have moved to a
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``single-branch'' model in which most extensions can optionally be included
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or not from a single set of source documents.
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It is possible that some vendors will choose to continue maintaining their
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extension branches, and the existing extension branches will not be removed
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from GitHub.
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====
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There is a rigid syntax for these names:
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* Extensions are named with the syntax: +VK_AUTHOR_<name>+.
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* Layers are named with the syntax: +VK_LAYER_{AUTHOR|FQDN}_<name>+.
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Both extensions and layer names include a +VK_+ prefix, as described in the
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<<naming-preprocessor,Preprocessor Defines>> section above.
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In addition, layers add a +LAYER_+ prefix.
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Extension and layer names must both be valid C language identifiers.
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[[extensions-naming-conventions-name-strings]]
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=== Extension and Layer Name Strings
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The +<name>+ portion of extension and layer names is a concise name
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describing the purpose or functionality of the extension or layer.
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The underscore (`_`) character is used as a delimiter between words.
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Every character of the name must be in lower case.
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=== Author IDs
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Extension and layer names also contain an _author ID_, indicated by +AUTHOR+
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above, identifying the author of the extension/layer.
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This ID is a short, capitalized string identifying an author, such as a
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Khronos member developing Vulkan implementations for their devices, or a
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non-Khronos developer creating Vulkan layers.
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Author IDs must be registered with Khronos.
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Some authors have platform communities they wish to distinguish between, and
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can register additional author IDs for that purpose.
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For example, Google has separate Android and Chrome communities.
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Details on how to register an author ID are provided below.
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Layer authors not wishing to register an author ID with Khronos can instead
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use a fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) as the ID.
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The FQDN should be a domain name owned by the author.
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FQDNs cannot be used for extensions, only for layers.
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* The following are examples of extension and layer names, demonstrating
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the above syntax:
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** Extension names all use the base prefix +VK_+.
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** Khronos-ratified extensions add the reserved author ID +KHR+, and will
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use the prefix +VK_KHR_+.
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** The following author IDs are reserved and must not be used:
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*** +VK+ - To avoid confusion with the top-level +VK_+ prefix.
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*** +VULKAN+ - To avoid confusion with the name of the Vulkan API.
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*** +LAYER+ - To avoid confusion with the higher-level ``LAYER'' prefix.
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*** +KHRONOS+ - To avoid confusion with the Khronos organization.
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** Multi-author extensions that have not been ratified by Khronos (those
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developed via cooperation between, and intended to be supported by two
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or more registered authors) add the special author ID +EXT+ to the base
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prefix, and will use the prefix +VK_EXT_+.
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** Traditional author-specific extensions developed by one author (or one
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author in cooperation with non-authors) add the author ID to the base
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prefix.
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For example, NVIDIA will use the prefix +VK_NV_+, and Valve will use
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the prefix +VK_VALVE_+.
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Some authors can have additional registered author IDs for special
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purposes.
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For example, an Android extension developed by Google - but part of an
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Android open-source community project, and so not a proprietary Google
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extension - will use the author ID +ANDROID+.
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** Layer names follow the same conventions as extensions, but use the base
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prefix +VK_LAYER_+.
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** Because layers need not be registered with Khronos, an alternative
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mechanism is needed to allow creating unique layer names without
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registering an author ID.
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Layer authors that prefer not to register an author ID can instead use
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a fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) in reverse-order as an author ID,
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replacing +.+ (period) with `_` (underscore) characters.
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The restriction that layer names must be valid C identifiers means that
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some FQDNs cannot be used as part of layer names.
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[source, c]
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.Example
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----
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// Khronos extension name
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VK_KHR_mirror_clamp_to_edge
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// Multivendor extension name
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VK_EXT_debug_marker
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// Vendor extension name using author ID NV
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VK_NV_glsl_shader
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// Vendor layer name using author ID LUNARG
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VK_LAYER_LUNARG_vktrace
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// Layer name using the FQDN www.3dxcl.invalid instead of an author ID
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VK_LAYER_invalid_3dxcl_www
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----
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[NOTE]
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.Note
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====
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To avoid linking to a nonexistent domain, the reserved TLD +.invalid+ is
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used in the example above.
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====
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[[extensions-naming]]
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== Extension Command, Type, and Token Naming Conventions
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Extensions may add new commands, types, and tokens, or collectively
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``objects'', to the Vulkan API.
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These objects are given globally unique names by appending the author ID
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defined above for the extension name as described in the
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<<naming-extension-identifiers, Extension Identifier Naming Conventions>>
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section above.
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[[extensions-api-registry]]
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== The Vulkan Registry
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The canonical definition of the Vulkan APIs is kept in an XML file known as
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the *Vulkan registry*.
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The registry is kept in +src/spec/vk.xml+ in the branch of the vulkan
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project containing the most recently released core API specification.
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The registry contains reserved author IDs, core and extension interface
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definitions, definitions of individual commands and structures, and other
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information which must be agreed on by all implementations.
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The registry is used to maintain a single, consistent global namespace for
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the registered entities, to generate the Khronos-supplied +vulkan.h+, and to
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create a variety of related documentation used in generating the API
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specification and reference pages.
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[[extensions-author-ID]]
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== Registering an Author ID with Khronos
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Previous Khronos APIs could only officially be modified by Khronos members.
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In an effort to build a more flexible platform, Vulkan allows non-Khronos
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developers to extend and modify the API via layers and extensions in the
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same manner as Khronos members.
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However, extensions must still be registered with Khronos.
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A mechanism for non-members to register layers and extensions is provided.
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Extension authors will be able to create an account on GitHub and register
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an author ID with Khronos through the
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+<<vulkan-docs,KhronosGroup/Vulkan-Docs>>+ project.
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The author ID must be used for any extensions that author registers.
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The same mechanism will be used to request registration of extensions or
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layers with Khronos, as described below.
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To reserve an author ID, propose a merge request against
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<<extensions-api-registry,+vk.xml+>> in the +1.0+ branch.
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The merge must add a +<tag>+ XML tag and fill in the +name+, +author+ and
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+contact+ attributes with the requested author ID, the author's formal name
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(e.g. company or project name), and contact email address, respectively.
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The author ID will only be reserved once this merge request is accepted.
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Please do not try to reserve author IDs which clearly belong to another
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existing company or software project which may wish to develop Vulkan
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extensions or layers in the future, as a matter of courtesy and respect.
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Khronos may decline to register author IDs that are not requested in good
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faith.
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[[extensions-vendor-id]]
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== Registering a Vendor ID with Khronos
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Vulkan implementers must report a valid vendor ID for their implementation
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when queried by fname:vkGetPhysicalDeviceProperties, as described in the
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``Devices and Queues'' section of the <<vulkan-spec,Vulkan API
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Specification>>.
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If there is no valid PCI vendor ID defined for the physical device,
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implementations must obtain a Khronos vendor ID.
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Khronos vendor IDs are reserved in a similar fashion to
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<<extensions-author-ID,author IDs>>.
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While vendor IDs are not directly related to API extensions, the reservation
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process is very similar and so is described in this section.
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To reserve an Khronos vendor ID, you must first have a Khronos author ID.
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Propose a merge request against <<extensions-api-registry,+vk.xml+>> in the
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+1.0+ branch.
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The merge must add a +<vendorid>+ tag and fill in the +name+ and +id+
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attributes.
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The +name+ attribute must be set to the author ID.
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The +id+ attribute must be the first sequentially available ID in the list
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of +<vendorid>+ tags.
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The vendor ID will be reserved only once this merge request has been
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accepted.
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Please do not try to reserve vendor IDs unless you are making a good faith
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effort to develop a Vulkan implementation and require one for that purpose.
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== Registering Extensions and Layers
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Extensions must be registered with Khronos.
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Layers may be registered, and registration is strongly recommended.
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Registration means:
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* Receiving an extension number.
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* Adding the extension or layer name to the list in +vk.xml+ and appearing
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on the Khronos registry website, which will link to associated
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documentation hosted on Khronos.
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* For extensions which add to the Vulkan API, including definitions of
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those additions to +vk.xml+.
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Registration for Khronos members is handled by filing a merge request in the
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internal gitlab repository against the branch containing the core
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specification against which the extension or layer will be written.
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The merge must modify +vk.xml+ to define extension names, API interfaces,
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and related information.
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Registration is not complete until the registry maintainer has validated and
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accepted the merge.
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Since this process could in principle be completely automated, this suggests
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a scalable mechanism for accepting registration of non-Khronos extensions.
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Non-Khronos members who want to create extensions must register with Khronos
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by creating a GitHub account, and registering their author ID and/or FQDNs
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to that account.
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They can then submit new extension registration requests by proposing merges
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to +vk.xml+.
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On acceptance of the merge, the extension will be registered, though its
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specification need not be checked into the Khronos GitHub repository at that
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point.
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The registration process can be split into several steps to accommodate
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extension number assignment prior to extension publication:
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* Acquire an extension number.
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This is done by proposing a merge request against +vk.xml+ similarly to
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how <<extensions-author-ID,author IDs are reserved>>.
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The merge should add a new +<extension>+ tag at the end of the file with
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attributes specifying the proposed extension +name+, the next unused
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sequential extension +number+, the +author+ and +contact+ information
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(if different than that already specified for the author ID used in the
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extension name), and finally, specifying +supported="disabled"+.
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The extension number will be reserved only once this merge request is
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accepted into the +1.0+ branch.
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* Develop and test the extension using the registered extension number.
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* Publish the extension to Khronos using the previously registered
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extension number, by submitting merge requests to the +1.0+ branch
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defining the changes specific to the extension.
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Changes to both the specification source, and to +vk.xml+ will be
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needed.
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** Extension changes to the specification source must be protected by
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asciidoc conditionals as described in the
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<<extensions-documenting,Documenting Extensions>> section.
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** Changes to +vk.xml+ must define the extension interfaces in the
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+<extension>+ block, and must also change the +supported+ attribute
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value of the +<extension>+ to +supported="vulkan"+.
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** When publishing an extension, mark it as enabled by proposing a merge
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to the +1.0+ branch changing the +supported+ attribute value of the
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+<extension>+ to +supported="vulkan"+.
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This should be completely automated and under the control of the
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publishers, to allow them to align publication on Khronos with product
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releases.
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However, complete automation might be difficult, since steps such as
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regenerating and validating +vulkan.h+ are involved.
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Once the merge is accepted and the corresponding updated header with
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the new extension interface is committed to the +1.0+ branch,
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publication is complete.
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** Publishing on the <<vulkan-docs,Khronos public GitHub repository>> is
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preferred whenever possible.
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Khronos members may instead create branches on Khronos' internal gitlab
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server, but those branches will eventually be mirrored to GitHub.
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** Once the merge request defining an extension has been accepted into the
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+1.0+ branch, publication is complete - although it may not be visible
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on GitHub until the next regular core Specification update is pushed
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out.
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* It is still possible to publish a separate branch of the repository with
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appropriate changes relative to the core Vulkan API branch instead, but
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this approach is deprecated and discouraged.
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If this is done, all changes to +vk.xml+ must still be made in the +1.0+
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branch.
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ifdef::editing-notes[]
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[NOTE]
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.editing-note
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====
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TODO: This section is subject to change and not complete yet, but in broad
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is how we expect extension registration and specifications to work.
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The process will be refined as members and outside authors define further
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extensions.
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====
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endif::editing-notes[]
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[[extensions-documenting]]
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== Documenting Extensions
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Extensions are documented as modifications to the Vulkan specification.
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Changes specific to an extension are protected by asciidoc conditionals.
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The changes are only visible in generated documentation when the
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Specification is built with an asciidoc attribute of that name defined.
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[NOTE]
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.Note
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====
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This is referred to as the ``single-branch'' model, in contrast to the
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earlier model where each extension lived in a separate branch from the +1.0+
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core Specification source.
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====
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For example, the +VK_KHR_surface+ extension is now documented in the +1.0+
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branch of the GitHub +<<vulkan-docs,KhronosGroup/Vulkan-Docs>>+ project.
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However, specifications generated from this branch will only include the
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extension when the Makefile is invoked appropriately.
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Most language defining extensions can be localized either into a small
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number of asciidoc include files which are conditionally included in the
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core specification chapters and appendices, or into parts of +vk.xml+
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defining the extension interfaces.
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[NOTE]
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.Note
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====
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We do not yet fully document an example of including an extension in the
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single-branch model.
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Instead, authors should refer to the +1.0+ branch and search for the names
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of existing extensions, such as +VK_KHR_surface+, as examples.
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Some aspects of the changes for this example extension are described below.
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====
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The WSI extensions were used to help prototype what changes need to be made
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for extensions, which include (but may not be limited to) the following:
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* All extensions should add an appendix to the Vulkan specification.
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This can be modeled after what was done for the +VK_KHR_surface+
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extension in +doc/specs/vulkan/appendices/VK_KHR_surface/wsi.txt+, which
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contains metainformation about the extension (as well as code examples,
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and revision history).
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This example is complicated because +VK_KHR_surface+ is a base extension
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on which many window system-specific extensions are layered.
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* Each extension's appendix file is included by adding an +include+
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statement to the +doc/specs/vulkan/vkspec.txt+ file.
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The +include+ statement must be protected by appropriate asciidoc
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conditionals.
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For example:
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+
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--
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.Example Markup
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----
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\ifdef::VK_KHR_surface[]
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\include::appendices/VK_KHR_surface/wsi.txt[]
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\endif::VK_KHR_surface[]
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----
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--
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* If an extension is more of an addition to the Vulkan specification, the
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extension should add a chapter to the Vulkan specification.
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For example, in the case of the +VK_KHR_surface+ example a new chapter
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is added in +vkspec.txt+ by including at the end of the core
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Specification chapters:
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+
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--
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.Example Markup
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----
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\ifdef::VK_KHR_surface[]
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\include::chapters/VK_KHR_surface/wsi.txt[]
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\endif::VK_KHR_surface[]
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----
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--
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* In every other place where the extension modifies the core
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Specification, modify the core files and protect the modifications with
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the same asciidoc conditionals.
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For example, +VK_KHR_surface+ adds new error codes to Vulkan.
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These are added to +chapters/fundamentals.txt+ in the ``Return Codes''
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section as follows:
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+
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--
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.Example Markup
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----
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... list of existing error codes
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\ifdef::VK_KHR_surface[]
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\include::VK_KHR_surface/VkResultErrorDescriptions_surface.txt[]
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\endif::VK_KHR_surface[]
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----
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--
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* For vendor extensions, changes made to existing core Specification
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source files and to +vk.xml+ all fall under the Contributor License
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Agreement.
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Vendors may use their own copyright on new files they add to the +1.0+
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branch, although that copyright must be compatible with the
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Specification copyright.
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== Assigning Extension Token Values
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|
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Extensions can define their own enumeration types and assign any values to
|
|
their enumerants that they like.
|
|
Each enumeration has a private namespace, so collisions are not a problem.
|
|
However, when extending existing enumeration objects with new values, care
|
|
must be taken to preserve global uniqueness of values.
|
|
Enumerations which define new bits in a bitmask are treated specially as
|
|
described in <<extensions-reserving-bitmask-values,Reserving Bitmask
|
|
Values>> below.
|
|
|
|
Each extension is assigned a range of values that can be used to create
|
|
globally-unique enum values.
|
|
Most values will be negative numbers, but positive numbers are also
|
|
reserved.
|
|
The ability to create both positive and negative extension values is
|
|
necessary to enable extending enumerations such as etext:VkResult that
|
|
assign special meaning to negative and positive values.
|
|
Therefore, 1000 positive and 1000 negative values are reserved for each
|
|
extension.
|
|
Extensions must not define enum values outside their reserved range without
|
|
explicit permission from the owner of those values (e.g. from the author of
|
|
another extension whose range is infringed on, or from the Khronos Registrar
|
|
if the values do not belong to any extension's range).
|
|
|
|
[NOTE]
|
|
.Note
|
|
====
|
|
Typically, extensions use a unique offset for each enumeration constant they
|
|
add, yielding 1000 distinct token values per extension.
|
|
Since each enumeration object has its own namespace, if an extension needs
|
|
to add many enumeration constant values, it can reuse offsets on a per-type
|
|
basis.
|
|
====
|
|
|
|
The information needed to add new values to the XML are as follows:
|
|
|
|
* The **extension name** (e.g. +VK_KHR_swapchain+) that is adding the new
|
|
enumeration constant.
|
|
* The existing enumeration **type** being extended (e.g.
|
|
stext:VkStructureType).
|
|
* The name of the new enumeration **token** being added (e.g.
|
|
etext:VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_SWAPCHAIN_CREATE_INFO_KHR).
|
|
* The **offset**, which is an integer between 0 and 999 relative to the
|
|
base being used for the extension.
|
|
* The **direction** may be specified to indicate a negative value
|
|
(+dir="-"+) when needed for negative etext:VkResult values indicating
|
|
errors, like etext:VK_ERROR_SURFACE_LOST_KHR.
|
|
The default direction is positive, if not specified.
|
|
|
|
Implicit is the registered number of an extension, which is used to create a
|
|
range of unused values offset against a global extension base value.
|
|
Individual enumerant values are calculated as offsets in that range.
|
|
Values are calculated as follows:
|
|
|
|
* [eq]#base_value = 1000000000#
|
|
* [eq]#range_size = 1000#
|
|
* [eq]#enum_offset(extension_number,offset) = base_value {plus}
|
|
(extension_number - 1) {times} range_size + offset#
|
|
* Positive values: [eq]#enum_offset(extension_number,offset)#
|
|
* Negative values: [eq]#-enum_offset(extension_number,offset)#
|
|
|
|
The exact syntax for specifying extension enumerant values is defined in the
|
|
+readme.pdf+ specifying the format of +vk.xml+, and extension authors can
|
|
also refer to existing extensions for examples.
|
|
|
|
|
|
[[extensions-reserving-bitmask-values]]
|
|
=== Reserving Bitmask Values
|
|
|
|
Enumerants which define bitmask values are a special case, since there are
|
|
only a small number of unused bits available for extensions.
|
|
For core Vulkan API and KHR extension bitmask types, reservations must be
|
|
approved by a vote of the Vulkan Working Group.
|
|
For EXT and vendor extension bitmask types, reservations must be approved by
|
|
the listed contact of the extension.
|
|
Bits are not reserved, and must not be used in a published implementation or
|
|
specification until the reservation is merged into
|
|
<<extensions-api-registry,+vk.xml+>> by the registry maintainer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
== Required Extension Tokens
|
|
|
|
In addition to any tokens specific to the functionality of an extension, all
|
|
extensions must define two additional tokens.
|
|
|
|
* +VK_EXTNAME_SPEC_VERSION+ is an integer constant which is the revision
|
|
of the extension named +VK_extname+ (+EXTNAME+ is all upper-case, while
|
|
extname is the capitalization of the actual extension name) in
|
|
+vulkan.h+.
|
|
This value begins at 1 with the initial version of an extension
|
|
specification, and is incremented when significant changes (bugfixes or
|
|
added functionality) are made.
|
|
Note that the revision of an extension defined in +vulkan.h+ and the
|
|
revision supported by the Vulkan implementation (the pname:specVersion
|
|
field of the slink:VkExtensionProperties structure corresponding to the
|
|
extension and returned by one of the
|
|
<<extended-functionality-extensions,extension queries>>) may differ.
|
|
In such cases, only the functionality and behavior of the
|
|
lowest-numbered revision can be used.
|
|
* +VK_EXTNAME_EXTENSION_NAME+ is a string constant which is the name of
|
|
the extension.
|
|
|
|
For example, for the WSI extension +VK_KHR_surface+, at the time of writing
|
|
the following definitions were in effect:
|
|
|
|
[source,c]
|
|
----
|
|
#define VK_KHR_SURFACE_SPEC_VERSION 24
|
|
#define VK_KHR_SURFACE_EXTENSION_NAME "VK_KHR_surface"
|
|
----
|
|
|
|
|
|
== Extension Objects, Enums, and Typedefs
|
|
|
|
Expanding on previous discussion, extensions can add values to existing
|
|
enums; and can add their own commands, enums, typedefs, etc.
|
|
This is done by adding to <<extensions-api-registry,+vk.xml+>>.
|
|
All such additions will be included in the +vulkan.h+ header supplied by
|
|
Khronos.
|
|
|
|
[NOTE]
|
|
.Note
|
|
====
|
|
Application developers are encouraged to be careful when using +switch+
|
|
statements with Vulkan API enums.
|
|
This is because extensions can add new values to existing enums.
|
|
The use of a +default:+ statement, within a +switch+, may avoid future
|
|
compilation issues.
|
|
====
|
|
|
|
|
|
[[extension-function_prototypes]]
|
|
== Extension Function Prototypes
|
|
|
|
Function pointer declarations and function prototypes for all core Vulkan
|
|
API commands are included in the +vulkan.h+ file.
|
|
These come from the official XML specification of the Vulkan API hosted by
|
|
Khronos.
|
|
|
|
Function pointer declarations are also included in the +vulkan.h+ file for
|
|
all commands defined by registered extensions.
|
|
Function prototypes for extensions may be included in +vulkan.h+.
|
|
Extension commands that are part of the Vulkan ABI must be flagged in the
|
|
XML.
|
|
Function prototypes will be included in +vulkan.h+ for all extension
|
|
commands that are part of the Vulkan ABI.
|
|
|
|
An extension can be considered platform specific, in which case its
|
|
interfaces in +vulkan.h+ are protected by #ifdefs.
|
|
This is orthogonal to whether an extension command is considered to be part
|
|
of the Vulkan ABI.
|
|
|
|
The initial set of WSI extension commands (i.e. for +VK_KHR_surface+,
|
|
+VK_KHR_swapchain+, and +VK_KHR_*_surface+) are considered to be part of the
|
|
Vulkan ABI.
|
|
Function prototypes for these WSI commands are included in the +vulkan.h+
|
|
provided by Khronos, though the platform-specific portions of +vulkan.h+ are
|
|
protected by #ifdefs.
|
|
|
|
[NOTE]
|
|
.Note
|
|
====
|
|
Based on feedback from implementers, Khronos expects that the Android,
|
|
Linux, and Windows Vulkan SDKs will include our +vulkan.h+ and export the
|
|
supported WSI functions for those platforms from their loader libraries.
|
|
Other implementations can make different choices for their headers and
|
|
loader libraries, but are encouraged to be consistent with these
|
|
implementations.
|
|
====
|
|
|
|
|
|
== Accessing Extension Functions from Programs
|
|
|
|
flink:vkGetInstanceProcAddr and flink:vkGetDeviceProcAddr can be used in
|
|
order to obtain function pointer addresses for core and extension commands
|
|
(per the description in the ``Command Function Pointers'' section of the
|
|
<<vulkan-spec,Vulkan API Specification>>).
|
|
Different Vulkan API loaders can choose to statically export functions for
|
|
some or all of the core Vulkan API commands, and can statically export
|
|
functions for some or all extension commands.
|
|
If a loader statically exports a function, an application can link against
|
|
that function without needing to call one of the ftext:vkGet*ProcAddr
|
|
commands.
|
|
|
|
[NOTE]
|
|
.Note
|
|
====
|
|
The Vulkan API loader for Android, Linux, and Windows exports functions for
|
|
all core Vulkan API commands, and for a set of WSI extension commands that
|
|
are applicable to those operating systems (see Vulkan loader documentation
|
|
for the relevant platform/OS for details).
|
|
The WSI functions are considered special, because they are required for many
|
|
applications.
|
|
====
|
|
|
|
|
|
[[extensions-interactions]]
|
|
== Extension Interactions
|
|
|
|
Extensions modifying the behavior of existing commands should provide
|
|
additional parameters by using the pname:pNext field of an existing
|
|
structure, pointing to a new structure defined by the extension, as
|
|
described in the ``Valid Usage'' section of the <<vulkan-spec,Vulkan API
|
|
Specification>>.
|
|
Extension structures defined by multiple extensions affecting the same
|
|
structure can be chained together in this fashion.
|
|
Any structure which can be chained in this fashion must begin with the
|
|
following two members:
|
|
|
|
["source","{basebackend@docbook:c++:cpp}",title=""]
|
|
----
|
|
VkStructureType sType;
|
|
const void* pNext;
|
|
----
|
|
|
|
It is in principle possible for extensions to provide additional parameters
|
|
through alternate means, such as passing a handle parameter to a structure
|
|
with a pname:sType defined by the extension, but this approach is
|
|
discouraged and should not be used.
|
|
|
|
When chaining multiple extensions to a structure, the implementation will
|
|
process the chain starting with the base parameter and proceeding through
|
|
each successive chained structure in turn.
|
|
Extensions should be defined to accept any order of chaining, and must
|
|
define their interactions with other extensions such that the results are
|
|
deterministic.
|
|
If an extension needs a specific ordering of its extension structure with
|
|
respect to other extensions in a chain to provide deterministic results, it
|
|
must define the required ordering and expected behavior as part of its
|
|
specification.
|