First-Class Function Type Checking for Shader Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shader languages do not support first-class functions, which are necessary for high rendering performance in computer graphics, due to the requirement of function pointers and dynamic memory allocation, leading to increased runtime and cache misses.
Innovation Solution
A method that checks and transforms computer programs with first-class functions into equivalent programs without these functions by partial evaluation, using a type check that associates fundamental types and binding times, allowing static functions to be accepted while rejecting dynamic ones, thereby enabling execution on hardware without function pointers and dynamic memory allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If first-class functions are supported in shader languages, then program modularity and reusability are improved, but runtime performance deteriorates due to function pointers and dynamic memory allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the program into static function definitions that are processed and inlined at compile time, separating the modular programming benefits from the runtime performance requirements. Functions are divided into static definitions (for modularity) and inline expansions (for performance).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs function inlining and code transformation as a preliminary action during compile time rather than at runtime. The type checker and transformer process all function calls before execution, eliminating runtime overhead while preserving modular program structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If function pointers are used to implement first-class functions, then program flexibility is improved, but cache performance deteriorates due to cache misses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts function call overhead and function pointer dereferencing from the runtime execution path. By performing partial evaluation and inlining at compile time, the harmful function pointer operations are removed from the critical runtime path, leaving only direct code execution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic memory allocation is used for function closures, then program expressiveness is improved, but execution speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary allocation and setup of function environments during compile time through partial evaluation. All memory allocation for closures is resolved before runtime, eliminating dynamic allocation overhead while preserving expressive first-class function semantics in the source code.
4Loss of time
If first-class functions are eliminated from shader programs, then runtime performance is improved, but program modularity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a compile-time intermediary (the type checker and transformer) that mediates between the programmer's use of first-class functions and the hardware's lack of support. This intermediary transforms modular programs with first-class functions into optimized code without runtime function pointers, preserving both modularity and performance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for checking and/or transformation of a computer program present in a programming language which supports first-class functions and in which a type check of the program or of at least a part of the program is performed in order to assign a type to each expression of the program or part of the program, the type consisting of a base type and a binding time. The set of base types comprises at least base types for describing simple values and a function type for describing functions, and the set of binding times comprises at least one static binding time and one dynamic binding time, and a function type is only accepted during the type check together with the static binding time.