Shader program headers

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to configure a graphics processing pipeline (GPP) to process data according to one or more shader programs, by performing the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of pointers, wherein each pointer references a different shader program header (SPH) included in a plurality of SPHs, and each SPH is stored with a different associated shader program that executes within the GPP;
• and
• for each SPH included in the plurality of SPHs:
• identifying one or more GPP configuration parameters included in the SPH;
• and
• adjusting the GPP based on the one or more GPP configuration parameters.

A computing device that configures a graphics processing pipeline (GPP) to process data according to one or more shader programs, the computing device comprising:

• a host processor coupled to a main memory;
• and
• a graphics adapter having management unit, wherein the management unit is configured to:
• receive a plurality of pointers, wherein each pointer references a different shader program header (SPH) included in a plurality of SPHs, and each SPH is stored with a different associated shader program that executes within the GPP;
• and
• for each SPH included in the plurality of SPHs:
• identify one or more GPP configuration parameters included in the SPH;
• and
• adjust the GPP based on the one or more GPP configuration parameters.