Resource synchronization for graphics processing

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon design information that specifies a design of at least a portion of a hardware integrated circuit in a format recognized by a semiconductor fabrication system that is configured to use the design information to produce the circuit according to the design, including:

• a plurality of shader processing elements configured to render graphics images using a plurality of resources;
• one or more first hardware storage elements configured to store pixel resources operated on by threads executed by ones of the plurality of shader processing elements, wherein one or more of the pixel resources are accessible to multiple ones of the threads;
• and
• one or more state storage elements configured, for ones of the threads executed by the plurality of shader processing elements, to maintain state information that specifies whether each of the pixel resources is locked or available for the thread, including at least one set of state information that indicates a first pixel resource is available to a first thread and a second pixel resource is locked for the first thread;
• wherein the design information specifies that the plurality of shader processing elements are configured to execute graphics instructions that specify to lock or release the first hardware storage elements for a thread by modifying ones of the one or more state storage elements.