reload no longer can disrupt the renderer

src/app/RuntimeLayerController.h

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ private:
 	void RequestRuntimeStatePersistence();
 	void RequestRuntimeStatePersistenceLocked();
 	std::filesystem::path ResolveRuntimeStatePath() const;
-	void StartLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& shaderId);
+	void StartLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& shaderId, bool preserveExistingRenderArtifact = false);
 	void RetireLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId);
 	void CleanupRetiredShaderBuilds();
 	void StopAllRuntimeShaderBuilds();

src/app/RuntimeLayerControllerBuild.cpp

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ void RuntimeLayerController::RequestRuntimeStatePersistenceLocked()
 	mPersistenceWriter.RequestSave(mRuntimeLayerModel.Snapshot());
 }
 
-void RuntimeLayerController::StartLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& shaderId)
+void RuntimeLayerController::StartLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& shaderId, bool preserveExistingRenderArtifact)
 {
 	CleanupRetiredShaderBuilds();
 	RetireLayerShaderBuild(layerId);
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void RuntimeLayerController::StartLayerShaderBuild(const std::string& layerId, c
 	{
 		std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mRuntimeLayerMutex);
 		std::string error;
-		mRuntimeLayerModel.MarkBuildStarted(layerId, "Runtime Slang build started for shader '" + shaderId + "'.", error);
+		mRuntimeLayerModel.MarkBuildStarted(layerId, "Runtime Slang build started for shader '" + shaderId + "'.", error, preserveExistingRenderArtifact);
 	}
 
 	auto bridge = std::make_unique<RuntimeShaderBridge>();

src/app/RuntimeLayerControllerControls.cpp

@@ -154,9 +154,8 @@ ControlActionResult RuntimeLayerController::HandleControlCommand(const RuntimeCo
 		for (const auto& build : buildsToStart)
 		{
 			Log("runtime-shader", "Reload queued shader rebuild: " + build.first + " shader=" + build.second);
-			StartLayerShaderBuild(build.first, build.second);
+			StartLayerShaderBuild(build.first, build.second, true);
 		}
-		PublishRuntimeRenderLayers();
 		return { true, std::string() };
 	}
 	case RuntimeControlCommandType::Unsupported:

src/runtime/RuntimeLayerModel.cpp

@@ -402,12 +402,6 @@ bool RuntimeLayerModel::ReloadFromCatalog(const SupportedShaderCatalog& shaderCa
 		layer.packageFingerprint = nextFingerprint;
 		layer.parameterDefinitions = shaderPackage->parameters;
 		layer.parameterValues = std::move(nextValues);
-		if (layer.renderReady)
-		{
-			layer.artifact.parameterValues = layer.parameterValues;
-			std::string prepareError;
-			PrepareRuntimeTextTextures(layer.artifact, prepareError);
-		}
 		buildsToStart.push_back({ layer.id, layer.shaderId });
 	}
 
@@ -420,7 +414,7 @@ void RuntimeLayerModel::Clear()
 	mLayers.clear();
 }
 
-bool RuntimeLayerModel::MarkBuildStarted(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& message, std::string& error)
+bool RuntimeLayerModel::MarkBuildStarted(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& message, std::string& error, bool preserveExistingRenderArtifact)
 {
 	Layer* layer = FindLayer(layerId);
 	if (!layer)
@@ -431,8 +425,12 @@ bool RuntimeLayerModel::MarkBuildStarted(const std::string& layerId, const std::
 
 	layer->buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Pending;
 	layer->message = message;
-	layer->renderReady = false;
+	layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild = preserveExistingRenderArtifact && layer->renderReady;
-	layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
+	if (!layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild)
+	{
+		layer->renderReady = false;
+		layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
+	}
 	error.clear();
 	return true;
 }
@@ -448,21 +446,28 @@ bool RuntimeLayerModel::MarkBuildReady(const RuntimeShaderArtifact& artifact, st
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	RuntimeShaderArtifact nextArtifact = artifact;
+	nextArtifact.parameterValues = layer->parameterValues;
+	if (!PrepareRuntimeTextTextures(nextArtifact, error))
+	{
+		layer->buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Failed;
+		layer->message = error;
+		if (!layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild)
+		{
+			layer->renderReady = false;
+			layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
+		}
+		layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild = false;
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	layer->shaderName = artifact.displayName.empty() ? artifact.shaderId : artifact.displayName;
 	layer->packageFingerprint = artifact.packageFingerprint;
 	layer->buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Ready;
 	layer->message = artifact.message;
 	layer->renderReady = true;
-	layer->artifact = artifact;
+	layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild = false;
-	layer->artifact.parameterValues = layer->parameterValues;
+	layer->artifact = std::move(nextArtifact);
-	if (!PrepareRuntimeTextTextures(layer->artifact, error))
-	{
-		layer->buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Failed;
-		layer->message = error;
-		layer->renderReady = false;
-		layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
-		return false;
-	}
 	error.clear();
 	return true;
 }
@@ -488,8 +493,12 @@ bool RuntimeLayerModel::MarkBuildFailed(const std::string& layerId, const std::s
 
 	layer->buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Failed;
 	layer->message = message;
-	layer->renderReady = false;
+	if (!layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild)
-	layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
+	{
+		layer->renderReady = false;
+		layer->artifact = RuntimeShaderArtifact();
+	}
+	layer->preserveRenderDuringBuild = false;
 	error.clear();
 	return true;
 }
@@ -515,10 +524,11 @@ RuntimeLayerModelSnapshot RuntimeLayerModel::Snapshot() const
 		{
 			RuntimeRenderLayerModel renderLayer;
 			renderLayer.id = layer.id;
-			renderLayer.shaderId = layer.shaderId;
 			renderLayer.bypass = layer.bypass;
 			renderLayer.artifact = layer.artifact;
-			renderLayer.artifact.parameterValues = layer.parameterValues;
+			renderLayer.shaderId = renderLayer.artifact.shaderId.empty() ? layer.shaderId : renderLayer.artifact.shaderId;
+			if (layer.buildState == RuntimeLayerBuildState::Ready)
+				renderLayer.artifact.parameterValues = layer.parameterValues;
 			renderLayer.artifact.fontAtlases.clear();
 			snapshot.renderLayers.push_back(std::move(renderLayer));
 		}

src/runtime/RuntimeLayerModel.h

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public:
 	bool UpdateParameter(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& parameterId, const JsonValue& value, std::string& error);
 	bool ResetParameters(const std::string& layerId, std::string& error);
 	bool ReloadFromCatalog(const SupportedShaderCatalog& shaderCatalog, std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string>>& buildsToStart, std::string& error);
-	bool MarkBuildStarted(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& message, std::string& error);
+	bool MarkBuildStarted(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& message, std::string& error, bool preserveExistingRenderArtifact = false);
 	bool MarkBuildReady(const RuntimeShaderArtifact& artifact, std::string& error);
 	bool MarkBuildFailedForShader(const std::string& shaderId, const std::string& message);
 	bool MarkBuildFailed(const std::string& layerId, const std::string& message, std::string& error);
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ private:
 		RuntimeLayerBuildState buildState = RuntimeLayerBuildState::Pending;
 		std::string message;
 		bool renderReady = false;
+		bool preserveRenderDuringBuild = false;
 		std::vector<ShaderParameterDefinition> parameterDefinitions;
 		std::map<std::string, ShaderParameterValue> parameterValues;
 		RuntimeShaderArtifact artifact;

tests/RenderCadenceCompositorRuntimeLayerModelTests.cpp

@@ -405,6 +405,84 @@ void TestReloadRefreshesChangedShaderMetadataAndPreservesValues()
 	std::filesystem::remove_all(root);
 }
 
+RuntimeShaderArtifact MakeReadyArtifact(
+	const RenderCadenceCompositor::SupportedShaderCatalog& catalog,
+	const std::string& layerId,
+	const std::string& shaderId,
+	const std::string& sourceToken)
+{
+	const ShaderPackage* shaderPackage = catalog.FindPackage(shaderId);
+	RuntimeShaderArtifact artifact;
+	artifact.layerId = layerId;
+	artifact.shaderId = shaderId;
+	artifact.displayName = shaderPackage ? shaderPackage->displayName : shaderId;
+	artifact.packageFingerprint = shaderPackage ? RenderCadenceCompositor::ShaderPackageFingerprint(*shaderPackage) : sourceToken;
+	artifact.fragmentShaderSource = "void main(){/*" + sourceToken + "*/}";
+	if (shaderPackage)
+		artifact.parameterDefinitions = shaderPackage->parameters;
+	artifact.message = "build ready";
+	return artifact;
+}
+
+void TestReloadRebuildKeepsLastGoodRenderArtifacts()
+{
+	std::filesystem::path root;
+	RenderCadenceCompositor::SupportedShaderCatalog catalog = MakeCatalog(root);
+	WriteFile(root / "passthrough" / "shader.slang", "float4 shadeVideo(float2 uv) { return float4(uv, 1.0, 1.0); }\n");
+	WriteFile(root / "passthrough" / "shader.json", R"({
+		"id": "passthrough",
+		"name": "Passthrough",
+		"description": "Passthrough test shader",
+		"category": "Tests",
+		"entryPoint": "shadeVideo",
+		"parameters": [
+			{ "id": "opacity", "label": "Opacity", "type": "float", "default": 1.0 }
+		]
+	})");
+	catalog = LoadCatalog(root);
+
+	RenderCadenceCompositor::RuntimeLayerModel model;
+	std::string error;
+	std::string solidLayerId;
+	std::string passthroughLayerId;
+	Expect(model.AddLayer(catalog, "solid", solidLayerId, error), "reload preserve solid layer can be added");
+	Expect(model.AddLayer(catalog, "passthrough", passthroughLayerId, error), "reload preserve passthrough layer can be added");
+	Expect(model.MarkBuildReady(MakeReadyArtifact(catalog, solidLayerId, "solid", "solid-old"), error), "solid layer starts render-ready");
+	Expect(model.MarkBuildReady(MakeReadyArtifact(catalog, passthroughLayerId, "passthrough", "passthrough-old"), error), "passthrough layer starts render-ready");
+
+	RenderCadenceCompositor::RuntimeLayerModelSnapshot snapshot = model.Snapshot();
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers.size() == 2, "ready stack exposes both render layers before reload");
+	const std::string oldSolidSource = snapshot.renderLayers[0].artifact.fragmentShaderSource;
+	const std::string oldPassthroughSource = snapshot.renderLayers[1].artifact.fragmentShaderSource;
+
+	WriteFile(root / "solid" / "shader.json", SolidShaderManifest(0.25, true));
+	RenderCadenceCompositor::SupportedShaderCatalog reloadedCatalog = LoadCatalog(root);
+	std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string>> buildsToStart;
+	Expect(model.ReloadFromCatalog(reloadedCatalog, buildsToStart, error), "reload preserve refreshes catalog");
+	for (const auto& build : buildsToStart)
+		Expect(model.MarkBuildStarted(build.first, "reload build started", error, true), "reload build preserves last good artifact");
+
+	snapshot = model.Snapshot();
+	Expect(snapshot.displayLayers[0].buildState == RenderCadenceCompositor::RuntimeLayerBuildState::Pending, "reload marks first layer pending");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers.size() == 2, "pending reload keeps full render stack");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers[0].artifact.fragmentShaderSource == oldSolidSource, "pending reload keeps old first layer artifact");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers[1].artifact.fragmentShaderSource == oldPassthroughSource, "pending reload keeps old second layer artifact");
+
+	Expect(model.MarkBuildFailed(solidLayerId, "reload compile failed", error), "failed reload marks layer failed");
+	snapshot = model.Snapshot();
+	Expect(!snapshot.compileSucceeded, "failed reload reports compile failure");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers.size() == 2, "failed reload keeps last good render stack");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers[0].artifact.fragmentShaderSource == oldSolidSource, "failed reload keeps old failed layer artifact");
+
+	Expect(model.MarkBuildReady(MakeReadyArtifact(reloadedCatalog, passthroughLayerId, "passthrough", "passthrough-new"), error), "other reload layer can commit");
+	snapshot = model.Snapshot();
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers.size() == 2, "partial reload commit still keeps complete render stack");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers[0].artifact.fragmentShaderSource == oldSolidSource, "partial reload commit keeps old failed layer artifact");
+	Expect(snapshot.renderLayers[1].artifact.fragmentShaderSource.find("passthrough-new") != std::string::npos, "partial reload commit updates ready layer");
+
+	std::filesystem::remove_all(root);
+}
+
 void TestTextTexturesArePreparedInRuntimeModel()
 {
 	std::filesystem::path root = MakeTestRoot();
@@ -456,6 +534,7 @@ int main()
 	TestInvalidRuntimeStateCanFallBackToConfiguredShader();
 	TestLayerControlsUpdateDisplayAndRenderModels();
 	TestReloadRefreshesChangedShaderMetadataAndPreservesValues();
+	TestReloadRebuildKeepsLastGoodRenderArtifacts();
 	TestTextTexturesArePreparedInRuntimeModel();
 
 	if (gFailures != 0)