Shader Compilation Using Runtime Snapshots for Context Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shader compilers optimize shaders based on assumptions that may be incorrect, leading to suboptimal performance when executed in the context of an application.

Innovation Solution

A system that captures snapshots of application execution to identify shaders and compiles them with different permutations of compiler options, measuring performance to select the best set of compilation parameters for improved execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If shaders are compiled separately based on general assumptions, then the compilation process is simple and fast, but the performance optimization is insufficient when executed in specific application contexts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshader compilation efficiencyVSAvoidperformance optimization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing execution snapshots before final compilation. These snapshots record the actual runtime context, resource usage patterns, and performance metrics, which are then used to generate optimized compilation parameters in advance, resolving the contradiction between simple compilation and accurate optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where execution snapshots provide real performance data back to the compilation process. This feedback enables the system to adjust compilation parameters based on actual runtime behavior, transforming static assumptions into dynamic, context-aware optimization that balances compilation efficiency with performance accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multiple compiler options are tested to optimize performance, then execution performance improves, but the compilation time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexecution performanceVSAvoidcompilation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates virtual copies of the compilation process by generating multiple candidate compilation parameters from execution snapshots. Instead of exhaustively testing all possible options, it copies and adapts parameters from successful runtime contexts, significantly reducing the search space while maintaining optimization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes compilation parameters based on extracted performance data from execution snapshots. By adjusting parameters such as register allocation, instruction scheduling, and optimization levels according to actual runtime conditions, the system achieves optimal performance without requiring exhaustive testing of all possible parameter combinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If shaders are compiled with fixed assumptions about execution context, then the compilation process is fast and straightforward, but the compiled code may not perform optimally in the actual application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompilation speedVSAvoidperformance in execution context

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static, fixed assumptions to dynamic compilation parameters that adapt to actual execution contexts. By capturing runtime snapshots and extracting contextual information, the compilation process becomes dynamic and responsive to real performance conditions, resolving the contradiction between speed and contextual accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical, rule-based compilation approach with a data-driven methodology. Instead of relying on hard-coded assumptions about execution patterns, the system uses actual runtime data from execution snapshots to generate compilation parameters, substituting mechanical rules with empirical observation and analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260024160A1Optimizing compilation of shaders

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

To optimize the compilation of shaders for execution within an application, a computer system discovers the context in which the shaders are executed. The application is compiled and executed on a target platform. Snapshots of the application during execution are captured. A snapshot includes data and commands passed between the central processing unit and the graphics processing unit of the target platform to generate a single frame of graphics data. The shaders used in these snapshots are identified. These shaders are compiled with a number of different permutations of available compiler options, resulting in sets of differently compiled shaders. The snapshot is re-executed with the sets of differently compiled shaders, and performance is measured. The set of compiler options that results in compiled shaders providing better performance can be used as the set of compilation parameters for the set of shaders for this application.