Add new sample for VK_EXT_descriptor_heap

antora/modules/ROOT/nav.adoc

@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 ** xref:samples/extensions/conservative_rasterization/README.adoc[Conservative rasterization]
 ** xref:samples/extensions/debug_utils/README.adoc[Debug utils]
 ** xref:samples/extensions/descriptor_buffer_basic/README.adoc[Descriptor buffer basic]
+** xref:samples/extensions/descriptor_heap/README.adoc[Descriptor heap]
 ** xref:samples/extensions/descriptor_indexing/README.adoc[Descriptor indexing]
 ** xref:samples/extensions/dynamic_line_rasterization/README.adoc[Dynamic line rasterization]
 ** xref:samples/extensions/dynamic_primitive_clipping/README.adoc[Dynamic primitive clipping]

framework/api_vulkan_sample.h

@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class ApiVulkanSample : public vkb::VulkanSampleC
 	/**
 	 * @brief Creates a new (graphics) command pool object storing command buffers
 	 */
-	void create_command_pool();
+	virtual void create_command_pool();
 
 	/**
 	 * @brief Setup default depth and stencil views

framework/core/allocated.h

@@ -176,6 +176,14 @@ class Allocated : public vkb::core::VulkanResource<bindingType, HandleType>
 	 * @note This performs no checking that the memory is actually mapped, so it's possible to get a nullptr
 	 */
 	const uint8_t *get_data() const;
+
+	/**
+	 * @brief Retrieves a pointer to the host visible memory as an unsigned byte array.
+	 * @return The pointer to the host visible memory.
+	 * @note Non-const. This performs no checking that the memory is actually mapped, so it's possible to get a nullptr
+	 */
+	uint8_t *get_mapped_data() const;
+
 	/**
 	 * @brief Retrieves the raw Vulkan memory object.
 	 * @return The Vulkan memory object.
@@ -588,6 +596,12 @@ inline const uint8_t *Allocated<bindingType, HandleType>::get_data() const
 	return mapped_data;
 }
 
+template <vkb::BindingType bindingType, typename HandleType>
+inline uint8_t *Allocated<bindingType, HandleType>::get_mapped_data() const
+{
+	return mapped_data;
+}
+
 template <vkb::BindingType bindingType, typename HandleType>
 inline typename Allocated<bindingType, HandleType>::DeviceMemoryType Allocated<bindingType, HandleType>::get_memory() const
 {

samples/extensions/README.adoc

@@ -256,11 +256,19 @@ Demonstrate how to use patch control points dynamically, which can reduce the nu
 
 Demonstrate how to use fragment shader barycentric feature, which allows accessing barycentric coordinates for each processed fragment.
 
-=== xref:./{extension_samplespath}descriptor_buffer_basic/README.adoc[Basic descriptor buffer]
+=== xref:./{extension_samplespath}descriptor_buffer_basic/README.adoc[Descriptor buffer]
 
 *Extension*: https://www.khronos.org/registry/vulkan/specs/latest/html/vkspec.html#VK_ext_descriptor_buffer[`VK_EXT_descriptor_buffer`]
 
-Demonstrate how to use the new extension to replace descriptor sets with resource descriptor buffers
+**Note:** If available, `VK_EXT_descriptor_heap` should be preferred.
+
+Demonstrate how to use the resource descriptor buffers to replace descriptor sets
+
+=== xref:./{extension_samplespath}descriptor_heap/README.adoc[Descriptor heap]
+
+*Extension*: https://www.khronos.org/registry/vulkan/specs/latest/html/vkspec.html#VK_ext_descriptor_heap[`VK_EXT_descriptor_heap`]
+
+Demonstrate how to use descriptor heaps that completely rework how descriptors are handled in Vulkan
 
 === xref:./{extension_samplespath}color_write_enable/README.adoc[Color write enable]
 

samples/extensions/descriptor_heap/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Sascha Willems
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 the "License";
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+get_filename_component(FOLDER_NAME ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR} NAME)
+get_filename_component(PARENT_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR} PATH)
+get_filename_component(CATEGORY_NAME ${PARENT_DIR} NAME)
+
+add_sample(
+    ID ${FOLDER_NAME}
+    CATEGORY ${CATEGORY_NAME}
+    AUTHOR "Sascha Willems"
+    NAME "Descriptor Heap"
+    DESCRIPTION "Demonstrates the descriptor heap extension to streamline descriptor setup"
+    SHADER_FILES_GLSL
+        "descriptor_heap/glsl/cube.vert"
+        "descriptor_heap/glsl/cube.frag"
+    SHADER_FILES_HLSL
+        "descriptor_heap/hlsl/cube.vert.hlsl"
+        "descriptor_heap/hlsl/cube.frag.hlsl"
+    SHADER_FILES_SLANG
+        "descriptor_heap/slang/cube.vert.slang"
+        "descriptor_heap/slang/cube.frag.slang")