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https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK

MoltenVK is a Vulkan Portability implementation. It layers a subset of the high-performance, industry-standard Vulkan graphics and compute API over Apple's Metal graphics framework, enabling Vulkan applications to run on macOS, iOS and tvOS.
https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK

Last synced: 3 months ago
JSON representation

Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK
Owner: KhronosGroup
License: apache-2.0
Created: 2017-11-07T18:41:56.000Z (almost 7 years ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2024-04-25T14:34:46.000Z (6 months ago)
Last Synced: 2024-04-29T00:11:20.221Z (6 months ago)
Language: Objective-C++
Homepage:
Size: 11.3 MB
Stars: 4,542
Watchers: 132
Forks: 395
Open Issues: 230
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
- Code of conduct: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

Awesome Lists containing this project

AwesomeCppGameDev - MoltenVK - performance, industry-standard Vulkan graphics and compute API, that runs on Apple's Metal graphics framework, bringing Vulkan to iOS and macOS. (Graphics)

README

MoltenVK
========

[comment]: # "This document is written in Markdown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown) format."
[comment]: # "For best results, use a Markdown reader."

![Build Status](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/workflows/CI/badge.svg)

Table of Contents
-----------------

- [Introduction to **MoltenVK**](#intro)
- [Developing Vulkan Applications on *macOS, iOS, tvOS, and visionOS*](#developing_vulkan)
- [Using the *Vulkan SDK*](#sdk)
- [Using MoltenVK Directly](#download)
- [Fetching **MoltenVK** Source Code](#install)
- [Building **MoltenVK**](#building)
- [Building With _Xcode_](#xcode_build)
- [Building From the Command Line](#command_line_build)
- [Hiding _Vulkan_ API Symbols](#hiding_vulkan_symbols)
- [Accessing _Metal_ Private API Calls](#metal_private_api)
- [Install *MoltenVK* to Replace The _Vulkan SDK_ `libMoltenVK.dylib`](#install_vksdk)
- [Running **MoltenVK** Demo Applications](#demos)
- [Using **MoltenVK** in Your Application](#using)
- [**MoltenVK** and *Vulkan* Compliance](#compliance)
- [Getting Support](#support)
- [Contributing to **MoltenVK** Development](#contributing)

Introduction to MoltenVK
------------------------

**MoltenVK** is a layered implementation of [*Vulkan 1.2*](https://www.khronos.org/vulkan)
graphics and compute functionality, that is built on Apple's [*Metal*](https://developer.apple.com/metal)
graphics and compute framework on *macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, and *visionOS*. **MoltenVK** allows
you to use *Vulkan* graphics and compute functionality to develop modern, cross-platform,
high-performance graphical games and applications, and to run them across many platforms,
including *macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, *visionOS*, *Simulators*, and *Mac Catalyst* on *macOS 11.0+*,
and all *Apple* architectures, including *Apple Silicon*.

*Metal* uses a different shading language, the *Metal Shading Language (MSL)*, than
*Vulkan*, which uses *SPIR-V*. **MoltenVK** automatically converts your *SPIR-V* shaders
to their *MSL* equivalents.

To provide *Vulkan* capability to the *macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, and *visionOS* platforms,
**MoltenVK** uses *Apple's* publicly available API's, including *Metal*. **MoltenVK**
does **_not_** use any private or undocumented API calls or features, so your app will
be compatible with all standard distribution channels, including *Apple's App Store*.

The **MoltenVK** runtime package contains two products:

- **MoltenVK** is a implementation of an almost-complete subset of the
[*Vulkan 1.2*](https://www.khronos.org/vulkan) graphics and compute API.

- **MoltenVKShaderConverter** converts *SPIR-V* shader code to *Metal Shading Language (MSL)*
shader code, and converts *GLSL* shader source code to *SPIR-V* shader code and/or
*Metal Shading Language (MSL)* shader code. The converter is embedded in the **MoltenVK**
runtime to automatically convert *SPIR-V* shaders to their *MSL* equivalents. In addition,
both the *SPIR-V* and *GLSL* converters are packaged into a stand-alone command-line
`MoltenVKShaderConverter` *macOS* tool for converting shaders at development time from the command line.

Developing *Vulkan* Applications for *macOS, iOS, tvOS, and visionOS*
---------------------------------------------------------------------

### Using the *Vulkan SDK*

The recommended method for developing a *Vulkan* application for *macOS* is to use the
[*Vulkan SDK*](https://vulkan.lunarg.com/sdk/home).

The *Vulkan SDK* includes a **MoltenVK** runtime library for *macOS*. *Vulkan* is a layered
architecture that allows applications to add additional functionality without modifying the
application itself. The *Validation Layers* included in the *Vulkan SDK* are an essential debugging
tool for application developers because they identify inappropriate use of the *Vulkan API*.
If you are developing a *Vulkan* application for *macOS*, it is highly recommended that you use the
[*Vulkan SDK*](https://vulkan.lunarg.com/sdk/home) and the **MoltenVK** library included in it.
Refer to the *Vulkan SDK [Getting Started](https://vulkan.lunarg.com/doc/sdk/latest/mac/getting_started.html)*
document for more info.

Because **MoltenVK** supports the `VK_KHR_portability_subset` extension, when using the
*Vulkan Loader* from the *Vulkan SDK* to run **MoltenVK** on *macOS*, the *Vulkan Loader*
will only include **MoltenVK** `VkPhysicalDevices` in the list returned by
`vkEnumeratePhysicalDevices()` if the `VK_INSTANCE_CREATE_ENUMERATE_PORTABILITY_BIT_KHR`
flag is enabled in `vkCreateInstance()`. See the description of the `VK_KHR_portability_enumeration`
extension in the *Vulkan* specification for more information about the use of the
`VK_INSTANCE_CREATE_ENUMERATE_PORTABILITY_BIT_KHR` flag.

### Using MoltenVK Directly

If you are developing a *Vulkan* application for *iOS*, *tvOS*, or *visionOS*, or are
developing a *Vulkan* application for *macOS* and want to use a different version or
build of the **MoltenVK** runtime library than provided in the *macOS Vulkan SDK*,
you can access a pre-built MoltenVK binary library from the **MoltenVK** repository, by
[selecting a repository commit from the list](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/actions),
and downloading the associated **MoltenVK** runtime library artifact.

Finally, if you want a customized build of **MoltenVK**, you can follow the [instructions below](#install)
to create a **MoltenVK** runtime library by fetching and building the **MoltenVK** source code.

To learn how to integrate the **MoltenVK** runtime library into a game or application,
see the [`MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md `](Docs/MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md)
document in the `Docs` directory.

Fetching **MoltenVK** Source Code
---------------------------------

To fetch **MoltenVK** source code, clone this `MoltenVK` repository, and then run the
`fetchDependencies` script to retrieve and build several external open-source libraries
on which **MoltenVK** relies:

1. Ensure you have `cmake` and `python3` installed:

brew install cmake
brew install python3

For faster dependency builds, you can also optionally install `ninja`:

brew install ninja

2. Clone the `MoltenVK` repository:

git clone https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK.git

3. Retrieve and build the external libraries:

cd MoltenVK
./fetchDependencies [platform...]

When running the `fetchDependencies` script, you must specify one or more platforms
for which to build the external libraries. The platform choices include:

--all
--macos
--ios
--iossim
--maccat
--tvos
--tvossim

You can specify multiple of these selections. The result is a single `XCFramework`
for each external dependency library, with each `XCFramework` containing binaries for
each of the requested platforms.

The `--all` selection is the same as entering all of the other platform choices,
and will result in a single `XCFramework` for each external dependency library,
with each `XCFramework` containing binaries for all supported platforms and simulators.

Running `fetchDependencies` repeatedly with different platforms will accumulate targets
in the `XCFramework`, if the `--keep-cache` option is used on each invocation.

For more information about the external open-source libraries used by **MoltenVK**,
see the [`ExternalRevisions/README.md`](ExternalRevisions/README.md) document.

Building **MoltenVK**
-------------------

During building, **MoltenVK** references the latest *Apple SDK* frameworks. To access these frameworks,
and to avoid build errors, be sure to use the latest publicly available version of *Xcode*.

> ***Note:*** *Xcode 14* introduced a new static linkage model that is not compatible with previous
versions of *Xcode*. If you link to a `MoltenVK.xcframework` that was built with *Xcode 14* or later,
also use *Xcode 14* or later to link it to your app or game.
>
> If you need to use *Xcode 13* or earlier to link `MoltenVK.xcframework` to your app or game,
first build **MoltenVK** with *Xcode 13* or earlier.
>
> Or, if you want to use *Xcode 14* or later to build **MoltenVK**, in order to be able to use the
latest *Metal* capabilities, but need to use *Xcode 13* or earlier to link `MoltenVK.xcframework`
to your app or game, first add the value `-fno-objc-msgsend-selector-stubs` to the `OTHER_CFLAGS`
*Xcode* build setting in the `MoltenVK.xcodeproj` and `MoltenVKShaderConverter.xcodeproj` *Xcode*
projects, build **MoltenVK** with *Xcode 14* or later, and then link `MoltenVK.xcframework`
to your app or game using *Xcode 13* or earlier.

Once built, the **MoltenVK** libraries can be run on *macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, or *visionOS* devices
that support *Metal*,or on the *Xcode* *iOS Simulator*, *tvOS Simulator*, or *visionOS Simulator*.

- The minimum runtime OS versions are indicated in the _Deployment Target_ build settings in `MoltenVK.xcodeproj`.
- Information on *macOS* devices that are compatible with *Metal* can be found in
[this article](http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/06/22/how-to-find-mac-el-capitan-metal-compatible).
- Information on *iOS* devices that are compatible with *Metal* can be found in
[this article](https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/DeviceInformation/Reference/iOSDeviceCompatibility/HardwareGPUInformation/HardwareGPUInformation.html).

### Building With _Xcode_

The `MoltenVKPackaging.xcodeproj` *Xcode* project contains targets and schemes to build
and package the entire **MoltenVK** runtime distribution package, or to build individual
**MoltenVK** or **MoltenVKShaderConverter** components.

To build a **MoltenVK** runtime distribution package, suitable for testing and integrating into an app,
open `MoltenVKPackaging.xcodeproj` in *Xcode*, and use one of the following *Xcode Schemes*, depending
on whether you want a **_Release_** or **_Debug_** configuration, and whether you want to build for all
platforms, or just one platform (in **_Release_** configuration):

- **MoltenVK Package**
- **MoltenVK Package (Debug)**
- **MoltenVK Package (macOS only)**
- **MoltenVK Package (iOS only)**
- **MoltenVK Package (tvOS only)**
- **MoltenVK Package (visionOS only)** _(requires Xcode 15+)_

Each of these`MoltenVKPackaging.xcodeproj` *Xcode* project *Schemes* puts the resulting packages in the
`Package` directory, creating it if necessary. This directory contains separate `Release` and `Debug`
directories, holding the most recent **_Release_** and **_Debug_** builds, respectively.

_**Note:**_ Due to technical limitations in the dynamic library build tools, dynamic frameworks and libraries cannot be created
for the _tvOS Simulator_, or _MacCatalyst_ platforms. Static frameworks are created for these, and all other, platforms.

A separate `Latest` directory links to the most recent build, regardless of whether it was a **_Release_**
or **_Debug_** build. Effectively, the `Package/Latest` directory points to whichever of the `Package/Release`
or `Package/Debug` directories was most recently updated.

With this packaging structure, you can follow the [instructions below](#using) to link your application
to the **MoltenVK** libraries and frameworks in the `Package/Latest` directory, to provide the flexibility
to test your app with either a **_Debug_** build, or a higher-performance **_Release_** build.

### Building From the Command Line

If you prefer to build **MoltenVK** from the command line, or to include the activity in a larger build script,
you can do so by executing a command similar to the following command within the `MoltenVK` repository folder,
and identifying one of the *Xcode Schemes* from the list above. For example, the following command will build
**MoltenVK** in the **_Debug_** configuration for *macOS* only:

xcodebuild build -quiet -project MoltenVKPackaging.xcodeproj -scheme "MoltenVK Package (macOS only)" -configuration "Debug"

Alternately, you can use the basic `Makefile` in the `MoltenVK` repository folder to build **MoltenVK**
from the command line. The following `make` targets are provided:

make
make all
make macos
make ios
make iossim
make maccat
make tvos
make tvossim

make all-debug
make macos-debug
make ios-debug
make iossim-debug
make maccat-debug
make tvos-debug
make tvossim-debug

make clean
make install

- Running `make` repeatedly with different targets will accumulate binaries for these different targets.
- The `all` target executes all platform targets.
- The `all` target is the default target. Running `make` with no arguments is the same as running `make all`.
- The `*-debug` targets build the binaries using the **_Debug_** configuration.
- The `install` target will copy the most recently built `Package/Latest/MoltenVK/dynamic/dylib/macOS/libMoltenVK.dylib`
into the `/usr/local/lib` system directory on your computer. Since `/usr/local/lib` is protected, you will generally
need to run it as `sudo make install` and enter your password. The `install` target does not build **MoltenVK**,
and you need to run `make macos` or `make macos-debug` first.

The `make` targets all require that *Xcode* is installed on your system.

_**Note:**_ Due to technical limitations within _Xcode_, a dynamic framework is not created for the _MacCatalyst_ platform.

Building from the command line creates the same `Package` folder structure described above when
building from within *Xcode*.

When building from the command line, you can set any of the build settings documented
in the `MoltenVK_Configuration_Parameters.md` file, by passing them in the command line,
as in the following examples:

make MVK_CONFIG_LOG_LEVEL=0
or
make macos MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1

...etc.

### Hiding _Vulkan_ API Symbols

You can optionally build **MoltenVK** with the _Vulkan_ API static call symbols (`vk*`) hidden, to avoid
library linking conflicts when statically bound to a _Vulkan_ loader that also exports identical symbols.

To do so, when building **MoltenVK**, set the build setting `MVK_HIDE_VULKAN_SYMBOLS=1`.
This build setting can be set in the `MoltenVK.xcodeproj` *Xcode* project, or it can be
included in any of the `make` command-line build commands [mentioned above](#command_line_build).

With `MVK_HIDE_VULKAN_SYMBOLS=1`, the _Vulkan_ `vkGetInstanceProcAddr()` call remains
statically bound, to provide the application with the ability to retrieve the remaining
_Vulkan_ API calls as function pointers.

### Accessing _Metal_ Private API Calls

You can optionally build **MoltenVK** with access to private _Metal_ API calls, also known
as "Service Provider Interfaces" (SPIs). Doing so will allow **MoltenVK** to extend its
functionality by using certain private _Metal_ API calls, but it will also disqualify the
app from being distributed via _Apple_ App Stores.

To do so, when building **MoltenVK**, set the build setting `MVK_USE_METAL_PRIVATE_API=1`.
This build setting can be set in the `MoltenVK.xcodeproj` *Xcode* project, or it can be
included in any of the `make` command-line build commands [mentioned above](#command_line_build).

Functionality added with `MVK_USE_METAL_PRIVATE_API` enabled includes:
- `VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures::wideLines`
- `VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures::logicOp`
- `VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures::depthBounds` *(requires an AMD GPU)*
- `VkPhysicalDevicePortabilitySubsetFeaturesKHR::samplerMipLodBias`
- `VkGraphicsPipelineRasterizationCreateInfo::sampleMask`, using `MTLRenderPipelineDescriptor.sampleMask` instead of emulating it in the fragment shader

### Install **MoltenVK** to Replace the _Vulkan SDK_ `libMoltenVK.dylib`

To replace the version of the **MoltenVK** installed on _macOS_ via the
*[Vulkan SDK](https://vulkan.lunarg.com/sdk/home)* standard install process,
perform the following steps:

1. Build a _macOS_ version of **MoltenVK**, as described [above](#building).
The default config for command-line **MoltenVK** build has verbose logging info turned on.
If you want **MoltenVK** to log like the original _Vulkan SDK_ install, use this command when building **MoltenVK**:

```bash
$ make macos MVK_CONFIG_LOG_LEVEL=1
```

2. From a command line terminal, execute the following command:

```bash
$ sudo make install
```

This will copy your latest _macOS_ build of **MoltenVK** into `/usr/local/lib/libMoltenVK.dylib`,
overwriting the file installed by the _Vulkan SDK_ install process.

Running **MoltenVK** Demo Applications
--------------------------------------

Once you have compiled and built the **MoltenVK** runtime distribution package from this **MoltenVK** repository,
as described in the [Building **MoltenVK**](#building) section, you can explore how **MoltenVK** provides *Vulkan*
support on *macOS*, *iOS*, and *tvOS* by investigating and running the demo application that is included in **MoltenVK**.

The **MoltenVK** _Cube_ demo app is located in the `Demos` folder. The demo app is available as an *Xcode* project.
To review and run the included demo app, open the `Demos/Demos.xcworkspace` workspace in *Xcode*.

Please read the [`Demos/README.md`](Demos/README.md) document for a description and instructions for running the
included *Cube* demo app, and for external links to more sophisticated demo applications that can be run on **MoltenVK**.

Using **MoltenVK** in Your Application
--------------------------------------

Once you have compiled and built the **MoltenVK** runtime distribution package from this **MoltenVK** repository,
as described in the [Building **MoltenVK**](#building) section, follow the instructions in the Installation
section of the [`Docs/MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md`](Docs/MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md#install) document
in the `Docs` directory, to link the **MoltenVK** libraries and frameworks to your application.

The runtime distribution package in the `Package/Latest` directory is a stand-alone package, and you can copy
the contents of that directory out of this **MoltenVK** repository into your own application building environment.

**MoltenVK** and *Vulkan* Compliance
------------------------------------

**MoltenVK** is designed to be an implementation of a *Vulkan 1.2* subset that runs on *macOS*, *iOS*,
*tvOS*, and *visionOS* platforms by mapping *Vulkan* capability to native *Metal* capability.

The fundamental design and development goal of **MoltenVK** is to provide this capability in a way that
is both maximally compliant with the *Vulkan 1.2* specification, and maximally performant.

Such compliance and performance is inherently affected by the capability available through *Metal*,
as the native graphics driver on *macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, and *visionOS* platforms. *Vulkan*
compliance may fall into one of the following categories:

- Direct mapping between *Vulkan* capabilities and *Metal* capabilities. Within **MoltenVK**, the vast
majority of *Vulkan* capability is the result of this type of direct mapping.

- Synthesized compliance through alternate implementation. A small amount of capability is provided using
this mechanism, such as via an extra render or compute shader stage.

- Non-compliance. This appears where the capabilities of *Vulkan* and *Metal* are sufficiently different, that
there is no practical, or reasonably performant, mechanism to implement a *Vulkan* capability in *Metal*.
Because of design differences between *Vulkan* and *Metal*, a very small amount of capability falls into this
category, and at present **MoltenVK** is **_not_** fully compliant with the *Vulkan* specification. A list of
known limitations is documented in the [`MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md`](Docs/MoltenVK_Runtime_UserGuide.md#limitations)
document in the `Docs` directory.

The **MoltenVK** development team welcomes you to [post Issues](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/issues)
of non-compliance, and engage in discussions about how compliance can be improved, and non-compliant features can
be implemented or worked around.

**MoltenVK** is a key component of the
[*Khronos Vulkan Portability Initiative*](https://www.khronos.org/vulkan/portability-initiative),
whose intention is to provide specifications, resources, and tools to allow developers to understand and design
their *Vulkan* apps for maximum cross-platform compatibility and portability, including on platforms, such as
*macOS*, *iOS*, *tvOS*, and *visionOS*, where a native *Vulkan* driver is not available.

Getting Support
----------------

- If you have a question about using **MoltenVK**, you can ask it in
[*MoltenVK Discussions*](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/discussions).
This forum is monitored by **MoltenVK** contributors and users.

- If you encounter an issue with the behavior of **MoltenVK**, or want to request an enhancement,
you can report it in the [*MoltenVK Issues List*](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/issues).

- If you encounter an issue with the *Vulkan SDK*, including the *Validation Layers*, you can report it in the
[*Vulkan SDK Issues List*](https://vulkan.lunarg.com/issue/home).

- If you explore **MoltenVK** and determine that it does not meet your requirements at this time, we would appreciate
hearing why that is so, in [*MoltenVK Discussions*](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/discussions).
The goal of **MoltenVK** is to increase the value of *Vulkan* as a true cross-platform ecosystem, by providing
*Vulkan* on *Apple* platforms. Hearing why this is currently not working for you will help us in that goal.

Contributing to **MoltenVK** Development
----------------------------------------

As a public open-source project, **MoltenVK** benefits from code contributions from a wide range of developers,
and we encourage you to get involved and contribute code to this **MoltenVK** repository.

To contribute your code, submit a [Pull Request](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK/pulls)
to this repository. The first time you do this, you will be asked to agree to the **MoltenVK**
[Contributor License Agreement](https://cla-assistant.io/KhronosGroup/MoltenVK).

### Licensing

**MoltenVK** is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license. All new source code files should include a
copyright header at the top, containing your authorship copyright and the Apache 2.0 licensing stub.
You may copy the text from an existing source code file as a template.

The Apache 2.0 license guarantees that code in the **MoltenVK** repository is free of Intellectual Property
encumbrances. In submitting code to this repository, you are agreeing that the code is free of any Intellectual
Property claims.

### *Vulkan* Validation

Despite running on top of *Metal*, **MoltenVK** operates as a *Vulkan* core layer. As such, as per the
error handling guidelines of the [*Vulkan* specification](https://www.khronos.org/registry/vulkan/specs/1.2/html/vkspec.html#fundamentals-errors), **MoltenVK** should not perform *Vulkan* validation. When adding functionality
to **MoltenVK**, avoid adding unnecessary validation code.

Validation and error generation **_is_** appropriate within **MoltenVK** in cases where **MoltenVK** deviates
from behavior defined by the *Vulkan* specification. This most commonly occurs when required behavior cannot
be mapped to functionality available within *Metal*. In that situation, it is important to provide feedback to
the application developer to that effect, by performing the necessary validation, and reporting an error.

Currently, there is some excess *Vulkan* validation and error reporting code within **MoltenVK**, added before
this guideline was introduced. You are encouraged to remove such code if you encounter it while performing other
**MoltenVK** development. Do not remove validation and error reporting code that is covering a deviation in
behavior from the *Vulkan* specification.

### Memory Management

*Metal*, and other *Objective-C* objects in *Apple's SDK* frameworks, use reference counting for memory management.
As a contributor to **MoltenVK**, when instantiating *Objective-C* objects, it is important that you do not rely on
the app providing *autorelease pools* to do memory management for you. Because many *Vulkan* games and apps may be
ported from other platforms, they will often not automatically include autorelease pools in their threading models.

As a contributor to **MoltenVK**, avoid the use of the *Metal* `autorelease` method, or any object *Metal* creation
methods that imply internal use of `autorelease`, (eg- `[NSString stringWithFormat: ]`, etc). Instead, favor object
creation methods that return a retained object (eg- `[[NSString alloc] initWithFormat: ]`, etc), and manually track
and release those objects. If you need to use autoreleased objects, wrap your code in an `@autoreleasepool {...}` block.

### Code Formatting

When contributing code, please honour the code formatting style found in existing **MoltenVK** source code.
In future, this will formally be enforced using `clang-format`.