KhronosGroup · SaschaWillems · Aug 30, 2025 · Aug 30, 2025 · Aug 30, 2025 · Aug 30, 2025
diff --git a/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake b/bldsys/cmake/global_options.cmake
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ set(VKB_WSI_SELECTION "XCB" CACHE STRING "Select WSI target (XCB, XLIB, WAYLAND,
 set(VKB_CLANG_TIDY OFF CACHE STRING "Use CMake Clang Tidy integration")
 set(VKB_CLANG_TIDY_EXTRAS "-header-filter=framework,samples,app;-checks=-*,google-*,-google-runtime-references;--fix;--fix-errors" CACHE STRING "Clang Tidy Parameters")
 set(VKB_PROFILING OFF CACHE BOOL "Enable Tracy profiling")
+set(VKB_SKIP_SLANG_SHADER_COMPILATION OFF CACHE BOOL "Skips compilation for Slang shader")
 
 set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "bin/${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}/${TARGET_ARCH}")
 set(CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "lib/${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}/${TARGET_ARCH}")

diff --git a/bldsys/cmake/sample_helper.cmake b/bldsys/cmake/sample_helper.cmake
@@ -252,6 +252,9 @@ endif()
     if (($ENV{CI} MATCHES true) AND ((CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES "Darwin") OR (CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES "iOS")))
         set(SLANG_SKIP_COMPILE true)
     endif()
+    if(VKB_SKIP_SLANG_SHADER_COMPILATION)
+        set(SLANG_SKIP_COMPILE true)
+    endif()
     if(NOT SLANG_SKIP_COMPILE AND Vulkan_slang_EXECUTABLE AND DEFINED SHADERS_SLANG)
         set(OUTPUT_FILES "")
         set(SLANG_TARGET_NAME ${PROJECT_NAME}-SLANG)

diff --git a/docs/build.adoc b/docs/build.adoc
@@ -105,6 +105,14 @@ Tracy is not currently enabled for Android builds. In the future, we may add sup
 
 *Default:* `OFF`
 
+=== VKB_SKIP_SLANG_SHADER_COMPILATION
+
+By default, Slang shaders are compiled if a Slang compiler is found on the system. In cases where this is undesirable, set this to `OFF` to disable Slang shader compilation.
+
+You can still select Slang as a shading language target for the samples since Slang shaders are included as precompiled SPIR-V files.
+
+*Default:* `OFF`
+
 == Quality Assurance
 
 We use a small set of tools to provide a level of quality to the project.

diff --git a/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp b/samples/api/hello_triangle/hello_triangle.cpp
@@ -287,6 +287,14 @@ void HelloTriangle::init_device()
 
 	// Since this sample has visual output, the device needs to support the swapchain extension
 	std::vector<const char *> required_device_extensions{VK_KHR_SWAPCHAIN_EXTENSION_NAME};
+	// Shaders generated by Slang require a certain SPIR-V environment that can't be satisfied by Vulkan 1.0, so we need to expliclity up that to at least 1.1 and enable some required extensions
+	if (get_shading_language() == vkb::ShadingLanguage::SLANG)
+	{
+		required_device_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_SPIRV_1_4_EXTENSION_NAME);
+		required_device_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_SHADER_FLOAT_CONTROLS_EXTENSION_NAME);
+		required_device_extensions.push_back(VK_KHR_SHADER_DRAW_PARAMETERS_EXTENSION_NAME);
+	}
+
 	if (!validate_extensions(required_device_extensions, device_extensions))
 	{
 		throw std::runtime_error("Required device extensions are missing.");

diff --git a/samples/extensions/color_write_enable/color_write_enable.cpp b/samples/extensions/color_write_enable/color_write_enable.cpp
@@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ void ColorWriteEnable::request_gpu_features(vkb::core::PhysicalDeviceC &gpu)
 	{
 		gpu.get_mutable_requested_features().independentBlend = true;
 	}
+
+	if (get_shading_language() == vkb::ShadingLanguage::SLANG)
+	{
+		gpu.get_mutable_requested_features().shaderStorageImageReadWithoutFormat = true;
+	}
 }
 
 void ColorWriteEnable::setup_descriptor_pool()

diff --git a/shaders/README.adoc b/shaders/README.adoc
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ This folder contains the textual shaders for the samples. All samples come with
 
 The samples load offline compiled SPIR-V variants of the GLSL/Slang/HLSL shaders. If you have the appropriate compiler installed, e.g. via the LunarG VUlkan SDK, shaders will be automatically compiled when building the samples project.
 
+**Note for compiling Slang shaders**:  The minimum required version of the Slang compiler is `2025.16.1`. Older versions might have issues compiling shaders or may result in invalid SPIR-V. It's advised to use the latest version from link:https://github.com/shader-slang/slang/releases[here]. 
+
 == Selecting shading language
 
 To select a shading language, use the `--shading-language` argument followed by the shading language `glsl`, `slang` or `hlsl`. Samples default to `glsl`.

diff --git a/shaders/color_write_enable/slang/triangle_separate_channels.vert.spv b/shaders/color_write_enable/slang/triangle_separate_channels.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle.vert.spv b/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle_calculate.comp.spv b/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle_calculate.comp.spv
diff --git a/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle_integrate.comp.spv b/shaders/compute_nbody/slang/particle_integrate.comp.spv
diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/hlsl/model.vert.hlsl b/shaders/conditional_rendering/hlsl/model.vert.hlsl
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2024, Sascha Willems
+/* Copyright (c) 2024-2025, Sascha Willems
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  *
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ VSOutput main(VSInput input)
 {
     VSOutput output = (VSOutput) 0;
     float4 localPos = mul(ubo.view, mul(push_constants.model, float4(input.Pos, 1.0)));   
-    output.Normal = input.Normal;
+    float3x3 nMat = (float3x3) mul(ubo.view, push_constants.model);
+    output.Normal = mul(nMat, input.Normal);
     output.Color = push_constants.color.rgb;
     output.Pos = mul(ubo.projection, localPos);
     const float3 lightPos = float3(10.0, -10.0, 10.0);

diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/hlsl/model.vert.spv b/shaders/conditional_rendering/hlsl/model.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.frag.slang b/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.frag.slang
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ float4 main(VSOutput input)
 	float3 L = normalize(input.LightVec);
 	float3 V = normalize(input.ViewVec);
 	float3 R = reflect(-L, N);
-	float3 ambient = float3(0.1);
+	float3 ambient = float3(0.25);
 	float3 diffuse = max(dot(N, L), 0.0) * float3(1.0);
 	float3 specular = pow(max(dot(R, V), 0.0), 16.0) * float3(0.75);
 	return float4((ambient + diffuse) * input.Color.rgb + specular, 1.0);

diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.frag.spv b/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.vert.slang b/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.vert.slang
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ VSOutput main(VSInput input, uniform float4x4 modelMatrix, uniform float4 modelC
 {
     VSOutput output;
     float4 localPos = mul(ubo.view, mul(modelMatrix, float4(input.Pos, 1.0)));
-    output.Normal = input.Normal;
+    float3x3 nMat = (float3x3)mul(ubo.view, modelMatrix);
+    output.Normal = mul(nMat, input.Normal);
     output.Color = modelColor.rgb;
     output.Pos = mul(ubo.projection, localPos);
     const float3 lightPos = float3(10.0, -10.0, 10.0);

diff --git a/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.vert.spv b/shaders/conditional_rendering/slang/model.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/conservative_rasterization/slang/triangle.vert.spv b/shaders/conservative_rasterization/slang/triangle.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/descriptor_buffer_basic/slang/cube.vert.spv b/shaders/descriptor_buffer_basic/slang/cube.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/base.frag.spv b/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/base.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/base.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/base.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/grid.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_line_rasterization/slang/grid.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_primitive_clipping/slang/primitive_clipping.frag.spv b/shaders/dynamic_primitive_clipping/slang/primitive_clipping.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_primitive_clipping/slang/primitive_clipping.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_primitive_clipping/slang/primitive_clipping.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_rendering/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv b/shaders/dynamic_rendering/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_rendering/slang/gbuffer.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_rendering/slang/gbuffer.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/composition.frag.spv b/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/composition.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/scene_opaque.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/scene_opaque.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/scene_transparent.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_rendering_local_read/slang/scene_transparent.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/dynamic_uniform_buffers/slang/base.vert.spv b/shaders/dynamic_uniform_buffers/slang/base.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/fragment_shading_rate/slang/scene.frag.spv b/shaders/fragment_shading_rate/slang/scene.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/fragment_shading_rate/slang/scene.vert.spv b/shaders/fragment_shading_rate/slang/scene.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/graphics_pipeline_library/slang/shared.vert.spv b/shaders/graphics_pipeline_library/slang/shared.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/gshader_to_mshader/slang/gshader_to_mshader.mesh.spv b/shaders/gshader_to_mshader/slang/gshader_to_mshader.mesh.spv
diff --git a/shaders/hdr/hlsl/gbuffer.frag.hlsl b/shaders/hdr/hlsl/gbuffer.frag.hlsl
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (c) 2024, Sascha Willems
+/* Copyright (c) 2024-2025, Sascha Willems
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  *
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ FSOutput main(VSOutput input)
                 fresnel *= (1.0 - F0);
                 fresnel += F0;
 
-                float spec = (fresnel * geoAtt) / (NdotV * NdotL * 3.14);
+				// Note: clamp to zero to mitigate any divide by zero
+				float spec = max((fresnel * geoAtt) / (NdotV * NdotL * 3.14), 0.0);
 
                 color = textureEnvMap.Sample(samplerEnvMap, reflect(-wViewVec, wNormal));
 

diff --git a/shaders/hdr/hlsl/gbuffer.frag.spv b/shaders/hdr/hlsl/gbuffer.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/hdr/slang/gbuffer.frag.slang b/shaders/hdr/slang/gbuffer.frag.slang
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ FSOutput main(VSOutput input)
 			fresnel *= (1.0 - F0);
 			fresnel += F0;
 
-			float spec = (fresnel * geoAtt) / (NdotV * NdotL * 3.14);
+			// Note: clamp to zero to mitigate any divide by zero
+			float spec = max((fresnel * geoAtt) / (NdotV * NdotL * 3.14), 0.0);
 
             color = samplerEnvMap.Sample(reflect(-wViewVec, wNormal));
 

diff --git a/shaders/hdr/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv b/shaders/hdr/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/background.vert.spv b/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/background.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/baseline.frag.spv b/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/baseline.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/baseline.vert.spv b/shaders/logic_op_dynamic_state/slang/baseline.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/mesh_shading/slang/ms.mesh.spv b/shaders/mesh_shading/slang/ms.mesh.spv
diff --git a/shaders/open_cl_interop/slang/texture_display.vert.spv b/shaders/open_cl_interop/slang/texture_display.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.tesc.spv b/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.tesc.spv
diff --git a/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.tese.spv b/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.tese.spv
diff --git a/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.vert.spv b/shaders/patch_control_points/slang/tess.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/profiles/slang/profiles.frag.spv b/shaders/profiles/slang/profiles.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/profiles/slang/profiles.vert.spv b/shaders/profiles/slang/profiles.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/push_descriptors/slang/cube.vert.spv b/shaders/push_descriptors/slang/cube.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_queries/slang/ray_shadow.frag.spv b/shaders/ray_queries/slang/ray_shadow.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_queries/slang/ray_shadow.vert.spv b/shaders/ray_queries/slang/ray_shadow.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/miss.rmiss.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/miss.rmiss.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/raygen.rgen.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_basic/slang/raygen.rgen.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/miss.rmiss.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/miss.rmiss.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/raygen.rgen.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_extended/slang/raygen.rgen.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/closesthit.rchit.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/miss.rmiss.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/miss.rmiss.spv
diff --git a/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/raygen.rgen.spv b/shaders/ray_tracing_position_fetch/slang/raygen.rgen.spv
diff --git a/shaders/separate_image_sampler/slang/separate_image_sampler.vert.spv b/shaders/separate_image_sampler/slang/separate_image_sampler.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/shader_debugprintf/slang/scene.frag.spv b/shaders/shader_debugprintf/slang/scene.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/shader_debugprintf/slang/scene.vert.spv b/shaders/shader_debugprintf/slang/scene.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/sparse_image/slang/sparse.frag.spv b/shaders/sparse_image/slang/sparse.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/sparse_image/slang/sparse.vert.spv b/shaders/sparse_image/slang/sparse.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle.vert.spv b/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle_calculate.comp.spv b/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle_calculate.comp.spv
diff --git a/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle_integrate.comp.spv b/shaders/synchronization_2/slang/particle_integrate.comp.spv
diff --git a/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/skysphere.vert.spv b/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/skysphere.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.frag.spv b/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.tesc.spv b/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.tesc.spv
diff --git a/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.tese.spv b/shaders/terrain_tessellation/slang/terrain.tese.spv
diff --git a/shaders/texture_compression_basisu/slang/texture.vert.spv b/shaders/texture_compression_basisu/slang/texture.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/texture_mipmap_generation/slang/texture.frag.spv b/shaders/texture_mipmap_generation/slang/texture.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/texture_mipmap_generation/slang/texture.vert.spv b/shaders/texture_mipmap_generation/slang/texture.vert.spv
diff --git a/shaders/vertex_dynamic_state/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv b/shaders/vertex_dynamic_state/slang/gbuffer.frag.spv
diff --git a/shaders/vertex_dynamic_state/slang/gbuffer.vert.spv b/shaders/vertex_dynamic_state/slang/gbuffer.vert.spv