An OpenGL backend for Halide

Abstract

High performance image processing requires not only an efficient underlying algorithm but also an implementation tailored to maximally exploit the available hardware resources. In practice, this requires low-level optimization, platform-specific instructions, and, when available, the use of special purpose hardware such as GPU. Halide is a domain-specific programming language targeted at image processing applications. Its programming model decouples an algorithm from the details of its execution, vastly simplifying development and optimization. We present an OpenGL backend for the Halide compiler, which enables Halide programs to run GPU computation on devices that support the OpenGL API. In particular, this paves the way for GPU computation on mobile devices using OpenGL ES. In doing so, we demonstrate how a general image processing framework can be built upon functionality designed for 3D graphics applications.