# GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/Cauldron

A simple framework for rapid prototyping on Vulkan or Direct3D 12

Repository: https://github.com/GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/Cauldron
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/cauldron
Language: C++
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Last push: 2024-03-13T12:01:53+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 23/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2598, "days_push": 903, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1094, forks 91 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:33.793945+00:00)

## What it is
Cauldron is a C++ framework by AMD for rapid prototyping of rendering demos and samples on Vulkan and Direct3D 12. It provides glTF 2.0 loading, PBR rendering, postprocessing, resource management, and ImGui-based UI, and underpins AMD's FidelityFX sample projects.

## Use cases
- prototype graphics techniques on vulkan or directx 12
- build a demo app that loads glTF 2.0 models with PBR materials
- create SDK samples for GPU rendering effects like FSR or shadows
- experiment with postprocessing such as TAA, bloom, and tonemapping
- learn modern D3D12/Vulkan rendering resource management patterns

## When to choose
- you need a lightweight C++ rendering framework for GPU technique prototypes
- you are building FidelityFX-style samples or AMD GPU demos
- you want cross-API (Vulkan/DX12) rendering with glTF support out of the box

## When to avoid
- you need a full production game engine with editor and asset pipeline
- you target OpenGL, Metal, or consoles rather than Vulkan/DX12
- you want a high-level engine without writing low-level rendering code

## Facets
- artifact type: framework
- maturity: stable
- function: graphics, game-engine, sdk, gui, image-processing
- domain: graphics, developer-tools, simulation
- platform: windows, cpp, cross-platform
- tags: vulkan, directx12, rendering, gltf, amd, gpu, prototyping, pbr, imgui, game-development, linux

## Member repositories
- GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/Cauldron (main) score 23

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:33.793945+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:47:26.682877+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/GPUOpen-LibrariesAndSDKs/Cauldron (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:33.793945+00:00, sha b891321c43a4)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.