Compute shader example does not work

Ivan_Pong · June 20, 2025, 3:10am

DEFOLD EDITOR AND ENGINE BUGS

I’ve made a listing of this issue here:

github.com/defold/defold

Compute shader example does not work

opened 03:08AM - 20 Jun 25 UTC

gnnop

bug

**Describe the bug (REQUIRED)** The shader example at https://defold.com/manuals…/compute/ does not work for me. **To Reproduce (REQUIRED)** I'm on Ubuntu. I created the shader at the listed url as: #version 450 layout (local_size_x = 1, local_size_y = 1, local_size_z = 1) in; // specify the input resources uniform vec4 color; uniform sampler2D texture_in; // specify the output image layout(rgba32f) uniform image2D texture_out; void main() { // This isn't a particularly interesting shader, but it demonstrates // how to read from a texture and constant buffer and write to a storage texture ivec2 tex_coord = ivec2(gl_GlobalInvocationID.xy); vec4 output_value = vec4(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0); vec2 tex_coord_uv = vec2(float(tex_coord.x)/(gl_NumWorkGroups.x), float(tex_coord.y)/(gl_NumWorkGroups.y)); vec4 input_value = texture(texture_in, tex_coord_uv); output_value.rgb = input_value.rgb * color.rgb; // Write the output value to the storage texture imageStore(texture_out, tex_coord, output_value); } I have the latest Nvidia drivers with vulkan. A modifed approach would be to use a UBO: #version 430 layout (local_size_x = 1, local_size_y = 1, local_size_z = 1) in; // We need to give this uniform block a binding point. Let's use 0. layout(binding = 0) uniform Constants { vec4 color; } cons; // <-- We give the block an "instance name" to use it // The binding for texture_out must now be different, e.g., 1. layout(binding = 1, rgba32f) uniform image2D texture_out; void main() { ivec2 tex_coord = ivec2(gl_GlobalInvocationID.xy); // Access 'color' through the block's instance name imageStore(texture_out, tex_coord, cons.color); } However, there is no documented way to set the cons object in Defold. The error is: /main/compute/example.compute /main/compute/game_of_life.cp:6: 'non-opaque uniforms outside a block' : not allowed when using GLSL for Vulkan ERROR: 1 compilation errors. No code generated. ERROR: Linking compute stage: Missing entry point: Each stage requires one entry point SPIR-V is not generated for failed compile or link **Expected behavior (REQUIRED)** The shader compiles and its possible to bind to it. **Defold version (REQUIRED):** - Version 1.10.2 ; editor-alpha **Platforms (REQUIRED):** - Platforms: Linux - Ubuntu **Additional context (OPTIONAL):** I'm trying to use the cross-platform compute shaders. I have some compute shader experience, however this is my first time using Defold.

The current Defold example:

is not cross-platform supported. This should either be fixed, or it should specify that Vulkan contexts are not supported.