glslangValidator

glslangValidator is a command-line utility that validates and pre-processes GLSL (OpenGL Shading Language) and HLSL (High-Level Shading Language) source code. It is part of the glslang project, a GLSL compiler developed by Google. The primary function of glslangValidator is to check shader code for syntax errors, semantic correctness, and compliance with various shading language specifications.

The tool can translate shaders from GLSL or HLSL into an intermediate representation (IR) called SPIR-V (Standard Portable Intermediate Representation). SPIR-V is a Khronos Group standard that serves as an interchange format for graphics and compute shaders. This translation is crucial for modern graphics APIs like Vulkan, which natively consume SPIR-V.

glslangValidator supports multiple versions of GLSL and HLSL, allowing developers to target different hardware and API requirements. It can also perform optimizations on the shader code during the compilation process. The validator provides detailed error messages and line numbers, aiding developers in debugging their shaders. It is an essential tool for graphics developers working with Vulkan, Metal, or modern OpenGL, ensuring shader code is correct and optimized.