SDL_CreateGPUDevice(3)

💖 SDL_CreateGPUDevice 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the SDL3 FUNCTIONS corner of the manual, where today we're building a whole entire GPU context. yes, really. sit down, hydrate, let's go ✨

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🌸 NAME 🌸

SDL_CreateGPUDevice — Creates a GPU context.

like, it makes the GPU context. that's the whole job. main character energy fr 💅

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🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

#include <SDL3/SDL_gpu.h>

SDL_GPUDevice * SDL_CreateGPUDevice(
    SDL_GPUShaderFormat format_flags,
    bool debug_mode,
    const char *name);

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so the GPU driver name you pass in can be one of these, no cap:

• "vulkan": [Vulkan](CategoryGPU#vulkan) 🔥
• "direct3d12": [D3D12](CategoryGPU#d3d12) 💜
• "metal": [Metal](CategoryGPU#metal) 🎀
• NULL: just let SDL pick the optimal driver, bestie. she knows what she's doing 🫶

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✨ FUNCTION PARAMETERS ✨

• format_flags — a bitflag indicating which shader formats the app is able to provide. it's giving "here's what I brought to the party" 💃
• debug_mode — enable debug mode properties and validations. turn this on when you want the extra checks, lowkey essential while you're still figuring things out 🙈
• name — the preferred GPU driver, or NULL to let SDL pick the optimal driver. queen behavior, delegating 💅

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🌈 RETURN VALUE 🌈

Returns a GPU context on success or NULL on failure — and if it fails, call SDL_GetError() for more information, because she will tell you exactly what went wrong 😭

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⭐ AVAILABILITY ⭐

This function is available since SDL 3.2.0. iconic since day one, periodt 👑

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💜 SEE ALSO 💜

• SDL_CreateGPUDeviceWithProperties(3)
• SDL_GetGPUShaderFormats(3)
• SDL_GetGPUDeviceDriver(3)
• SDL_DestroyGPUDevice(3)
• SDL_GPUSupportsShaderFormats(3)

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ok so quick vibe check: if you made a device, you gotta SDL_DestroyGPUDevice it later. don't leave her hanging. 🫶

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that's the whole page bestie, mwah 💖 this one's from Simple Directmedia Layer, SDL 3.4.18 era — go forth and create your GPU device, you absolute legend 🌸✨🎀