I just noticed that 18.0 is using the new ggx() function which returns the bsdf (ggx). This function replaced the cvex_bsdf used by older versions in the get_bsdf() function used in materials such as the principled and classic shaders.

Does this internally map to the cvex shaders defined by ggx_eval.vfl and ggx_sample.vfl, or is it now fully built-in?

If it is built-in, is it in any way more efficient or otherwise improved vs the cvex based bsdf of prior verions (in mantra and or karma)? Does this change mean that karma does not(yet) support cvex bsdfs?

The C++ version of the GGX shader should be about the same performance as the cvex_bsdf(). Due to its architecture, Karma can be significantly more efficient when using C++ BSDFs instead of CVEX BSDFs. However, Karma does still support CVEX BSDFs.

I believe that Mantra should still be using the CVEX versions for BSDF evaluation, since mantra's architecture sees performance benefits from keeping everything in VEX.

Great to know that CVEX BSDF code will still be supported in Karma. Sometimes just being able to hack something shot specific into a BSDF via VEX is more valuable than absolute performance.

That said, will there be a public API to create custom C++ BSDFs?

A public C++ BSDF interface is unlikely.

mark
A public C++ BSDF interface is unlikely.

With Karma now gold and a fully fledge USD renderer, is an API in sight?

Andy_23

mark
A public C++ BSDF interface is unlikely.

With Karma now gold and a fully fledge USD renderer, is an API in sight?

A C++ interface is still pretty unlikely - especially with XPU.