Preface

Short Description
GPU programming is a rapidly changing field, and the time is already ripe for a sequel. In. the handful of years since programmable graphics processors …

Website: download.nvidia.com | Filesize: 677kb

Content
Preface
The first volume of GPU Gems was conceived in the spring of 2003, soon after the arrival
of the first generation of fully programmable GPUs. The resulting book was released less
than a year later and quickly became a best seller, providing a snapshot of the best ideas
for making the most of the capabilities of the latest programmable graphics hardware.
GPU programming is a rapidly changing field, and the time is already ripe for a sequel. In
the handful of years since programmable graphics processors first became available, they
have become faster and more flexible at an incredible pace. Early programmable GPUs
supported programmability only at the vertex level, while today complex per-pixel programs
are common. A year ago, real-time GPU programs were typically tens of instructions
long, while this year’s GPUs handle complex programs hundreds of instructions
long and still render at interactive rates. Programmable graphics has even transcended the
PC and is rapidly spreading to consoles, handheld gaming devices, and mobile phones.
Until recently, performance-conscious developers might have considered writing their
GPU programs in assembly language. These days, however, high-level GPU programming
languages are ubiquitous. It is extremely rare for developers to…