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proposals/0026-hlsl-vector-type.md

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+* Proposal: [0026-HLSL-Vectors](0026-hlsl-vector-type.md)
+* Author(s): [Anupama Chandrasekhar](https://github.com/anupamachandra)
+* Sponsor: Damyan Pepper
+* Status: **Under Consideration**
+
+# HLSL Vectors
+
+## Introduction
+
+HLSL has supported vectors in a limited capacity (int3, float4, etc.), and these are scalarized in DXIL; small vectors while useful in a traditional graphics context do not scale well with the evolution on HLSL as a more general purpose language targetting Graphics and Compute. Notably, with the ubiquitous adoption of machine learning techniques which often get expressed as vector-matrix operations, there is a need for supporting larger vector sizes in HLSL and preserving these vector objects at the DXIL level to take advantage of specialized hardware that can accelerate vector operations.
+
+## Proposed solution
+
+Enable vectors of longer length in HLSL and preserve the vector type in DXIL.
+
+## Detailed design
+
+### HLSL vectors `vector<T, N>`
+
+Currently HLSL allows `vector<T, N> name;` where `T` is any [scalar](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-scalar) type and `N`, number of
+components, is a positive integer less than or equal to 4. See current definition [here](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-vector). 
+This proposal extends this support to longer vectors (beyond 4). 
+
+The default behavior of HLSL vectors is preserved for backward compatibility, meaning, skipping the last parameter `N`
+defaults to 4-component vectors and the use `vector name;` declares a 4-component float vector, etc. More examples
+[here](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-vector).
+
+The new vectors will be supported in all shader stages including Node shaders. There are no control flow or wave
+uniformity requirements, but implementations may specify best practices in certain uses for optimal performance. 
+
+**Restrictions on the uses of vectors with N > 4** 
+
+* Vectors with length greater than 4 are not permitted inside a `struct`.
+* Vectors with length greater than 4 are not permitted as shader input/output parameters.
+
+**Constructing vectors**
+
+HLSL vectors can be constructed through initializer lists and constructor syntax initializing or by assignment.
+
+Examples:
+
+``` 
+vector<uint, 5> vecA = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; 
+vector<uint, 6> vecB = vector<uint, 6>(6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 0);
+uint4 initval = {0, 0, 0, 0};
+vector<uint, 8> vecC = {uint2(coord.xy), vecB};
+vector<uint, 6> vecD = vecB;
+```
+
+**Load and Store vectors from Buffers/Arrays**
+
+For loading and storing N-dimensional vectors from ByteAddressBuffers we use the `LoadN` and `StoreN` methods, extending
+the existing Load/Store, Load2/Store2, Load3/Store3 and Load4/Store4 methods.
+
+``` 
+// Load/Store from [RW]ByteAddressBuffers
+RWByteAddressBuffer myBuffer;
+
+vector<uint, N> val = myBuffer.LoadN(uint StartOffsetInBytes); 
+myBuffer.StoreN<T>(uint StartoffsetInBytes, vector<T, N> stVec);
+
+// Load/Store from groupshared arrays
+groupshared T inputArray[512];
+groupshared T outputArray[512];
+
+Load(vector<T,N> ldVec, groupshared inputArray, uint offsetInBytes);
+Store(vector<T,N> stVec, groupshared outputArray, uint offsetInBytes);
+```
+
+**Operations on vectors** 
+
+Support all HLSL intrinsics that are important as activation functions: fma, exp, log, tanh, atan, min, max, clamp, and
+step. Eventually support all HLSL operators and math intrinsics that are currently enabled for vectors.
+
+Refer to the HLSL spec for an exhaustive list of [Operators](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-operators) and [Intrinsics](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3dhlsl/dx-graphics-hlsl-intrinsic-functions).
+
+Note: Additionally any mathematical operations missing from the above list but needed as activation functions for neural
+network computations will be added.
+
+### Debug Support
+First class debug support for HLSL vectors. Emit `llvm.dbg.declare` and `llvm.dbg.value` intrinsics that can be used by tools for better debugging experience. Open Issue: Handle DXIL scalarized and vector paths. 
+
+
+### Diagnostic Changes
+
+* Additional error messages for illegal or unsupported use of arbitrary length vectors.
+* Remove current bound checks (N <= 4) for vector size in supported cases, both HLSL and DXIL.
+
+
+### Validation Changes
+
+* What additional validation failures does this introduce?
+*Illegal uses of vectors should produce errors*
+* What existing validation failures does this remove?
+*Allow legal uses of vectors with number of components greater than 4*
+
+## D3D12 API Additions
+
+TODO: Possible checks for DXIL vector support and tiered support.
+
+## Check Feature Support
+
+Open Issue: Can implementations support vector DXIL?
+
+### Minimum Support Set
+
+
+## Testing
+
+* How will correct codegen for DXIL/SPIRV be tested?
+* How will the diagnostics be tested?
+* How will validation errors be tested?
+* How will validation of new DXIL elements be tested?
+* A: *unit tests in dxc*
+* How will the execution results be tested?
+* A: *HLK tests*
+
+
+## Alternatives considered
+
+Our original proposal introduced an opaque Cooperative Vector type to HLSL to limit the scope of the feature to small
+neural network evaluation and also contain the scope for testing. But aligning with the long term roadmap of HLSL to
+enable generic vectors, it makes sense to not introduce a new datatype but use HLSL vectors, even if the initial
+implementation only exposes partial functionality.
+
+## Open Issues
+* Q: Is there a limit on the Number of Components in a vector?
+* A: Chose a number based on precedents set by other languages. Support atleast 128.
+* Q: Usage restrictions
+* A: *General vectors (N > 4) are not permitted inside structs.*
+* Q: Does this have implications for existing HLSL source code compatibility?
+* A: *No, existing HLSL code is unaffected by this change.*
+* A: *Change the default N = 4 for vectors? Will affect existing shaders.*
+* Q: How will SPIRV be supported?
+* A: 
+* Q: When do HLSL vectors remain as vectors and when do they get scalarized in DXIL?
+* A: 
+* Q: Can all implementations support vector DXIL?
+* A: Feature check?
+
+## Acknowledgments
+
+
+<!-- {% endraw %} -->