VK_LAYER_LUNARG_core_validation

The VK_LAYER_LUNARG_core_validation layer validates the status of descriptor sets, command buffers, shader modules, pipeline states, renderpass usage, synchronization, dynamic states and is the workhorse layer for many other types of valid usage.

VK_LAYER_LUNARG_core_validation validates that:

• the descriptor set state and pipeline state at each draw call are consistent
• pipelines are created correctly, known when used and bound at draw time
• descriptor sets are known and consist of valid types, formats, and layout
• descriptor set regions are valid, bound, and updated appropriately
• command buffers referenced are known and valid
• command sequencing for specific state dependencies and renderpass use is correct
• memory is available
• dynamic state is correctly set.

The VK_LAYER_LUNARG_core_validation layer will print errors if validation checks are not correctly met. VK_LAYER_LUNARG_core_validation will also display the values of the objects tracked.

Memory/Resource related functionality

This layer additionally attempts to ensure that memory objects are managed correctly by the application. These memory objects may be bound to pipelines, objects, and command buffers, and then submitted to the GPU for work. Specifically the layer validates that:

• the correct memory objects have been bound
• memory objects are specified correctly upon command buffer submittal
• only existing memory objects are referenced
• destroyed memory objects are not referenced
• the application has confirmed any memory objects to be reused or destroyed have been properly unbound
• checks texture formats and render target formats.

Errors will be printed if validation checks are not correctly met and warnings if improper (but not illegal) use of memory is detected. This validation layer also dumps all memory references and bindings for each operation.

Shader validation functionality

Checks performed by this layer apply to the VS->FS and FS->CB interfaces with the pipeline. These checks include:

• validating that all variables which are part of a shader interface are decorated with either spv::DecLocation or spv::DecBuiltin (that is, only the SSO rendezvous-by-location model is supported)
• emitting a warning if a location is declared only in the producing stage (useless work is being done)
• emitting an error if a location is declared only in the consuming stage (garbage will be read).

A special error checking case invoked when the FS stage writes a built-in corresponding to the legacy gl_FragColor. In this case, an error is emitted if

• the FS also writes any user-defined output
• the CB has any attachment with a UINT or SINT type.

These extra checks are to ensure that the legacy broadcast of gl_FragColor to all bound color attachments is well-defined.

Swapchain validation functionality

This area of functionality validates the use of the WSI (Window System Integration) "swapchain" extensions (e.g., VK_EXT_KHR_swapchain and VK_EXT_KHR_device_swapchain).