Shader Debugging Made Easy with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics

Shader Debugging Made Easy with NVIDIA Nsight Graphics

• NVIDIA has introduced a new Shader Debugger in Nsight Graphics in response to the community's need for powerful and intuitive shader debugging tools.
• Debugging shaders with Nsight Graphics involves setting breakpoints, pausing shader execution, and inspecting variables similar to traditional CPU debugging workflows.

Getting Started with the Shader Debugger

• The Shader Debugger is now a selectable activity in Nsight Graphics when connected to a target application.
• Breakpoints can be set to pause shader code execution at specific points for inspection, enabling developers to diagnose issues and understand shader behavior.

Locals Window and Visual Display

• The Locals Window shows variables within the current scope, while a table displays warps and threads at breakpoints for visual inspection.
• Fragments in flight can be inspected superimposed on the render target, allowing developers to analyze the rendering process in detail.

Compute Workloads and Dual-GPU Setup

• Compute workloads support instruction-level preemption for interrupting code execution, providing precision in debugging tasks.
• Nsight Graphics utilizes a dual-GPU setup for precise shader debugging, ensuring accuracy in examining program states.

More on Nsight Graphics 2024.2

• Nsight Graphics 2024.2 introduces additional features to enhance graphics debugging and profiling workflows.
• Developers can explore the latest innovations in Nsight Tools by watching the Developer Tools at SIGGRAPH 2024 spotlight video.

Conclusion

• The Nsight Graphics Shader Debugger is a vital tool for graphics developers striving to debug applications and achieve high-quality visual outcomes.