nshader_info.h

Type definitions and metadata structures for shader reflection.

Purpose

Defines the complete type system: backends, stages, binding types, and metadata structures. All reflection data is exposed through these types.

Enumerations

nshader_backend_t

Target compilation backends:

• NSHADER_BACKEND_DXIL - DirectX Intermediate Language (DX12)
• NSHADER_BACKEND_DXBC - DirectX Bytecode (DX11)
• NSHADER_BACKEND_MSL - Metal Shading Language
• NSHADER_BACKEND_SPV - SPIR-V (Vulkan/OpenGL)

nshader_type_t

Shader program type:

• NSHADER_SHADER_TYPE_GRAPHICS - vertex + fragment stages
• NSHADER_SHADER_TYPE_COMPUTE - compute stage only

nshader_stage_type_t

Individual shader stages:

• NSHADER_STAGE_TYPE_VERTEX
• NSHADER_STAGE_TYPE_FRAGMENT
• NSHADER_STAGE_TYPE_COMPUTE

nshader_binding_type_t

Variable data types for input/output bindings: INT8, UINT8, INT16, UINT16, INT32, UINT32, INT64, UINT64, FLOAT16, FLOAT32, FLOAT64

Metadata Structures

nshader_stage_binding_t

Single input/output variable:

• name - UTF-8 variable name
• location - binding location
• vector_size - component count (1-4)
• type - data type enum

nshader_stage_metadata_vertex_t / fragment_t

Graphics stage metadata:

• num_samplers, num_storage_textures, num_storage_buffers, num_uniform_buffers
• inputs, input_count - input bindings
• outputs, output_count - output bindings

nshader_stage_metadata_compute_t

Compute stage metadata:

• Read-only/read-write counts for storage textures and buffers
• num_samplers, num_uniform_buffers
• threadcount_x/y/z - dispatch dimensions

nshader_info_t

Top-level shader info:

• type - graphics or compute
• stages, num_stages - array of stage descriptors
• backends, num_backends - available compiled backends

Utility Functions

const char* nshader_backend_to_string(nshader_backend_t);      // "DXIL", "SPIR-V", etc.
const char* nshader_backend_to_extension(nshader_backend_t);   // ".dxil", ".spv", etc.
const char* nshader_stage_type_to_string(nshader_stage_type_t);
const char* nshader_binding_type_to_string(nshader_binding_type_t);
nshader_type_t nshader_stage_type_to_shader_type(nshader_stage_type_t);

When to Use

• Inspecting compiled shader capabilities
• Building pipeline state objects with correct resource counts
• Validating shader compatibility before loading
• Debug/diagnostic tooling