An Embedded Shading Language

Abstract

Modern graphics accelerators have embedded programmable components in the form of vertex and fragment shading units. Current APIs permit specification of the programs for these components using an assembly-language level interface. Compilers for high-level shading languages are available but these read in an external string specification, which can be inconvenient. It is possible, using standard C++, to define an embedded high-level shading language. Such a language can be nearly indistinguishable from a special-purpose shading language, yet permits more direct interaction with the specification of textures and parameters, simplifies implementation, and enables on-the-fly generation, manipulation, and specification of shader programs. An embedded shading language also permits the lifting of C++ host language type, modularity, and scoping constructs into the shading language without any additional implementation effort.