vkforge 0.6.0

VkForge: A Vulkan User-End API Implementation Generator for Renderer Development

VkForge - Vulkan End-User API Implementation Generator

VkForge is a lean Vulkan code generator that helps you write Vulkan applications faster by generating boilerplate implementations. It gives you direct control over Vulkan while automating repetitive setup code.

Why Use VkForge?

• Write real Vulkan code - No hidden abstractions or magic
• Save development time - Generate Vulkan boilerplate instantly
• Small and focused - C99 code, C++ compatible
• Flexible usage - Pick only what you need
• SDL3 integration - With plans for more platform support

// Example: Get started quickly
#include "vkforge_typedecls.h"  // Generated type declarations
#include "vkforge_funcdecls.h"  // Generated function declarations

int main() {
    SDL_Window* window = SDL_CreateWindow("App", 800, 600, SDL_WINDOW_VULKAN);
    VkForgeCore* core = VkForge_CreateCore(window, 0, 0); // Convenience creator for core Vulkan objects
    VkForgeRender* render = VkForge_CreateRender(/*...*/); // Object designed for rending with Vulkan
    
    while(running) {
        VkForge_UpdateRender(render); // Handles Vulkan complexity
    }
}

Key Features

Automatic Vulkan Implementation

• Generates Vulkan initialization code (instance, device, swapchain)
• Creates pipelines from your shaders
• Builds descriptor layouts automatically
• Uses glslangValidator (from Vulkan SDK) for GLSL compilation

Helpful Utilities

• Basic texture loading via SDL3_image
• Memory management helpers
• Synchronization utilities
• Dynamic rendering (Vulkan 1.3)

Flexible Generation

• Generate complete implementations or just specific components
• Mix generated and handwritten code
• Update pipelines as shaders change

How It Works

VkForge generates clean C code by analyzing:

1. Your Shaders (SPIR-V / GLSL source (compiled automatically))
2. Your Configuration (YAML format)

# Example vkforge.yml
ID: VkForge 0.5

Pipeline: # Atleast one pipeline to generate pipeline code and layout code
  - name: MainPipeline
    ShaderModule: # layouts are automatically designed from shader combinations
      - path: shaders/main.vert 
      - path: shaders/main.frag
    VertexInputBindingDescription: # describe how vertex locations are binded to buffers
      - stride: sizeof(Vertex) # Can be Type, Sizeof or Integer
        first_location: 0

Getting Started

1. Install VkForge:

pip install vkforge

2. Ensure glslangValidator is in your PATH (comes with Vulkan SDK)

3. Create your config file and run:

vkforge config.yml --source-dir src --build-dir build

4. Use the generated code:

#include "vkforge_typedecls.h"
#include "vkforge_funcdecls.h"

void DrawCallback(VkForgeRender render) {
    VkForge_BindPipeline(render.userData, "MainPipeline", render.cmdbuf_draw);
    vkCmdDraw(render.cmdbuf_draw, 3, 1, 0, 0);
}

Usage Patterns

VkForge is designed to be flexible:

• Starter Template - Generate all code once and modify manually
• Pipeline Updates - Regenerate only pipelines when shaders change
• Partial Adoption - Use only specific generated components
• Convenience Components - Provide automatic layout design and render management

# Generate certain files just once
GenerateOnce:
- CMakeLists.txt
- vkforge_core.c

Current Limitations

• Vulkan 1.3 with dynamic rendering only (renderpass support planned)
• SDL3 platform support (others planned)
• Basic feature set (see roadmap below)

Roadmap

Help wanted on these features! Contribute via pull requests or ideas.

• Optimize Design layout to only store unique data globally
• Add support for push constants
• Add support for subpass inputs
• Add support for Renderpass (pre-1.3 Vulkan)
• Platform abstraction (Raylib, GLFW support)
• Alternative texture loading backends (stb_image)
• 3D utility functions
• Extended utility functions with pNext and pAllocator support ??
• Ensure VkForge support both Graphs and Compute GPU activities

Community & Contribution

VkForge is open source and MIT licensed. We welcome all contributions!

• Try it out and report issues
• Help implement roadmap features
• Improve documentation
• Share with others who might find it useful

🔗 GitHub Repository
📦 PyPI Package
💬 Discussions

Why VkForge?

Vulkan is powerful but requires lots of boilerplate. VkForge helps by:

• Generating the repetitive code
• Providing useful components
• Providing convenient utility functions
• Keeping you in control of the Vulkan API
• Staying out of your way when you don't need it

Small. Focused. Flexible.

(c) 2025 Alrick Grandison, Algodal