MoltenVK

MoltenVK is an open-source Vulkan API implementation that enables Vulkan applications to run on Apple platforms by translating Vulkan calls to Apple’s Metal API. It provides a Vulkan driver layer for macOS, iOS, and tvOS, allowing developers to port or deploy Vulkan-based software without rewriting rendering code for Metal.

MoltenVK functions as a translation layer that maps Vulkan objects, commands, and synchronization primitives to Metal equivalents. It includes components that translate and compile shaders from SPIR-V to Metal Shading Language, enabling shader execution on Apple GPUs. The library presents a Vulkan-compatible API surface while delegating rendering and resource management to Metal.

Platform scope and use cases: MoltenVK targets devices with Metal support, including Mac computers and iOS devices. It supports a broad subset of Vulkan features and common extensions, and is designed for integration by game engines, development tools, and applications that wish to run Vulkan content on Apple platforms without a native Vulkan stack.

Development and licensing: MoltenVK is maintained as open-source software and is hosted in public repositories as part of Khronos Group’s Vulkan portability efforts. It has been adopted as a practical path for running Vulkan on macOS and iOS where native Vulkan support is not available, and continues to evolve to support newer Vulkan versions and Metal capabilities.

Impact: By providing a Vulkan-to-Metal bridge, MoltenVK helps developers port and deploy Vulkan-based applications on Apple devices, contributing to cross-platform Vulkan development in the Apple ecosystem.