LizardByte · neatnoise · Feb 19, 2026 · Feb 19, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · Feb 27, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-freebsd.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-freebsd.yml
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ jobs:
               devel/pkgconf \
               ftp/curl \
               graphics/libdrm \
+              graphics/shaderc \
+              graphics/vulkan-headers \
+              graphics/vulkan-loader \
               graphics/wayland \
               lang/python314 \
               multimedia/libva \

diff --git a/cmake/compile_definitions/linux.cmake b/cmake/compile_definitions/linux.cmake
@@ -120,6 +120,73 @@ if(LIBVA_FOUND)
             "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/platform/linux/vaapi.cpp")
 endif()
 
+# vulkan video encoding (via FFmpeg)
+if(${SUNSHINE_ENABLE_VULKAN})
+    # use Vulkan headers from build-deps submodule (system headers may be too old, e.g. Ubuntu 22.04)
+    set(VULKAN_HEADERS_DIR "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/build-deps/third-party/FFmpeg/Vulkan-Headers/include")
+    if(NOT EXISTS "${VULKAN_HEADERS_DIR}/vulkan/vulkan.h")
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "Vulkan headers not found in build-deps submodule")
+    endif()
+
+    find_library(VULKAN_LIBRARY NAMES vulkan vulkan-1)
+    if(NOT VULKAN_LIBRARY)
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "libvulkan not found")
+    endif()
+
+    # prefer glslc, fall back to glslangValidator
+    find_program(GLSLC_EXECUTABLE glslc)
+    if(NOT GLSLC_EXECUTABLE)
+        find_program(GLSLANG_EXECUTABLE glslangValidator)
+    endif()
+    if(NOT GLSLC_EXECUTABLE AND NOT GLSLANG_EXECUTABLE)
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "Vulkan shader compiler not found (need glslc or glslangValidator)")
+    endif()
+
+    list(APPEND SUNSHINE_DEFINITIONS SUNSHINE_BUILD_VULKAN=1)
+    include_directories(SYSTEM ${VULKAN_HEADERS_DIR})
+    list(APPEND PLATFORM_LIBRARIES ${VULKAN_LIBRARY})
+    list(APPEND PLATFORM_TARGET_FILES
+            "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/platform/linux/vulkan_encode.h"
+            "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src/platform/linux/vulkan_encode.cpp")
+
+    # compile GLSL -> SPIR-V -> C include at build time
+    set(VULKAN_SHADER_DIR "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/generated-src/shaders")
+    set(VULKAN_SHADER_SOURCE "${SUNSHINE_SOURCE_ASSETS_DIR}/linux/assets/shaders/vulkan/rgb2yuv.comp")
+    set(VULKAN_SHADER_SPV "${VULKAN_SHADER_DIR}/rgb2yuv.spv")
+    set(VULKAN_SHADER_DATA "${VULKAN_SHADER_DIR}/rgb2yuv.spv.inc")
+
+    file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${VULKAN_SHADER_DIR}")
+
+    if(GLSLC_EXECUTABLE)
+        add_custom_command(
+                OUTPUT "${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV}"
+                COMMAND ${GLSLC_EXECUTABLE} -O "${VULKAN_SHADER_SOURCE}" -o "${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV}"
+                DEPENDS "${VULKAN_SHADER_SOURCE}"
+                COMMENT "Compiling Vulkan shader rgb2yuv.comp (glslc)"
+                VERBATIM)
+    else()
+        add_custom_command(
+                OUTPUT "${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV}"
+                COMMAND ${GLSLANG_EXECUTABLE} -V -o "${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV}" "${VULKAN_SHADER_SOURCE}"
+                DEPENDS "${VULKAN_SHADER_SOURCE}"
+                COMMENT "Compiling Vulkan shader rgb2yuv.comp (glslangValidator)"
+                VERBATIM)
+    endif()
+
+    add_custom_command(
+            OUTPUT "${VULKAN_SHADER_DATA}"
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -DSPV_FILE=${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV} -DOUT_FILE=${VULKAN_SHADER_DATA}
+                -P "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/scripts/binary_to_c.cmake"
+            DEPENDS "${VULKAN_SHADER_SPV}"
+            COMMENT "Generating C include from rgb2yuv.spv"
+            VERBATIM)
+
+    add_custom_target(vulkan_shaders
+            DEPENDS "${VULKAN_SHADER_DATA}"
+            COMMENT "Vulkan shader compilation")
+    set(SUNSHINE_TARGET_DEPENDENCIES ${SUNSHINE_TARGET_DEPENDENCIES} vulkan_shaders)
+endif()
+
 # wayland
 if(${SUNSHINE_ENABLE_WAYLAND})
     find_package(Wayland REQUIRED)

diff --git a/cmake/prep/options.cmake b/cmake/prep/options.cmake
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ elseif(UNIX)  # Linux
             "Enable KMS grab if available." ON)
     option(SUNSHINE_ENABLE_VAAPI
             "Enable building vaapi specific code." ON)
+    option(SUNSHINE_ENABLE_VULKAN
+            "Enable Vulkan video encoding." ON)
     option(SUNSHINE_ENABLE_WAYLAND
             "Enable building wayland specific code." ON)
     option(SUNSHINE_ENABLE_X11

diff --git a/cmake/scripts/binary_to_c.cmake b/cmake/scripts/binary_to_c.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# binary_to_c.cmake - Convert a binary file to a C uint32_t initializer list.
+# Input:  SPV_FILE  - path to SPIR-V binary
+# Output: OUT_FILE  - path to write C initializer (e.g. {0x07230203, ...})
+
+file(READ "${SPV_FILE}" data HEX)
+string(LENGTH "${data}" hex_len)
+math(EXPR num_bytes "${hex_len} / 2")
+math(EXPR num_words "${num_bytes} / 4")
+math(EXPR last "${num_words} - 1")
+
+set(_out "{")
+set(_idx 0)
+while(_idx LESS_EQUAL last)
+    math(EXPR off "${_idx} * 8")
+    math(EXPR off1 "${off} + 2")
+    math(EXPR off2 "${off} + 4")
+    math(EXPR off3 "${off} + 6")
+    string(SUBSTRING "${data}" ${off} 2 b0)
+    string(SUBSTRING "${data}" ${off1} 2 b1)
+    string(SUBSTRING "${data}" ${off2} 2 b2)
+    string(SUBSTRING "${data}" ${off3} 2 b3)
+    # little-endian to uint32_t
+    string(APPEND _out "0x${b3}${b2}${b1}${b0}")
+    if(NOT _idx EQUAL last)
+        string(APPEND _out ",")
+    endif()
+    math(EXPR _col "(${_idx} + 1) % 8")
+    if(_col EQUAL 0)
+        string(APPEND _out "\n")
+    endif()
+    math(EXPR _idx "${_idx} + 1")
+endwhile()
+string(APPEND _out "}\n")
+
+file(WRITE "${OUT_FILE}" "${_out}")
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -2155,6 +2155,11 @@ editing the `conf` file in a text editor. Use the examples as reference.
         <td>vaapi</td>
         <td>Use VA-API (AMD, Intel)</td>
     </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>vulkan</td>
+        <td>Use Vulkan encoder (AMD, Intel, NVIDIA).
+            @note{Applies to Linux only.}</td>
+    </tr>
     <tr>
         <td>software</td>
         <td>Encoding occurs on the CPU</td>
@@ -2920,6 +2925,101 @@ editing the `conf` file in a text editor. Use the examples as reference.
     </tr>
 </table>
 
+## Vulkan Encoder
+
+### vk_tune
+
+<table>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Description</td>
+        <td colspan="2">
+            Encoder tuning preset. Low latency modes reduce encoding delay at the cost of quality.
+            @note{This option only applies when using Vulkan [encoder](#encoder).}
+        </td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Default</td>
+        <td colspan="2">@code{}
+            2
+            @endcode</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Example</td>
+        <td colspan="2">@code{}
+            vk_tune = 1
+            @endcode</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Options</td>
+        <td>0 (default)</td>
+        <td>Let the driver decide</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>1 (hq)</td>
+        <td>High Quality</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>2 (ll)</td>
+        <td>Low Latency</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>3 (ull)</td>
+        <td>Ultra Low Latency</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>4 (lossless)</td>
+        <td>Lossless</td>
+    </tr>
+</table>
+
+### vk_rc_mode
+
+<table>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Description</td>
+        <td colspan="2">
+            Rate control mode for encoding. Auto lets the driver decide.
+            @note{This option only applies when using Vulkan [encoder](#encoder).}
+        </td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Default</td>
+        <td colspan="2">@code{}
+            4
+            @endcode</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Example</td>
+        <td colspan="2">@code{}
+            vk_rc_mode = 2
+            @endcode</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td>Options</td>
+        <td>0</td>
+        <td>Auto (driver decides)</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>1</td>
+        <td>CQP (Constant QP)</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>2</td>
+        <td>CBR (Constant Bitrate)</td>
+    </tr>
+    <tr>
+        <td></td>
+        <td>4</td>
+        <td>VBR (Variable Bitrate)</td>
+    </tr>
+</table>
+
 ## Software Encoder
 
 ### sw_preset

diff --git a/packaging/linux/Arch/PKGBUILD b/packaging/linux/Arch/PKGBUILD
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ depends=(
   'openssl'
   'opus'
   'udev'
+  'vulkan-icd-loader'
   'which'
 )
 
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ makedepends=(
   'npm'
   'python-jinja'  # required by the glad OpenGL/EGL loader generator
   'python-setuptools'  # required for glad OpenGL/EGL loader generated, v2.0.0
+  'shaderc'
 )
 
 checkdepends=(

diff --git a/packaging/linux/copr/Sunshine.spec b/packaging/linux/copr/Sunshine.spec
@@ -44,13 +44,15 @@ BuildRequires: openssl-devel
 BuildRequires: pipewire-devel
 BuildRequires: rpm-build
 BuildRequires: systemd-rpm-macros
+BuildRequires: vulkan-loader-devel
 BuildRequires: wget
 BuildRequires: which
 
 %if 0%{?fedora}
 # Fedora-specific BuildRequires
 BuildRequires: appstream
 # BuildRequires: boost-devel >= 1.86.0
+BuildRequires: glslc
 BuildRequires: libappstream-glib
 %if 0%{fedora} > 43
 # needed for npm from nvm
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ BuildRequires: npm
 BuildRequires: python311
 BuildRequires: python311-Jinja2
 BuildRequires: python311-setuptools
+BuildRequires: shaderc
 BuildRequires: udev
 # for unit tests
 BuildRequires: xvfb-run
@@ -157,6 +160,7 @@ Requires: libX11 >= 1.7.3.1
 Requires: numactl-libs >= 2.0.14
 Requires: openssl >= 3.0.2
 Requires: pulseaudio-libs >= 10.0
+Requires: vulkan-loader
 %endif
 
 %if 0%{?suse_version}
@@ -173,6 +177,7 @@ Requires: libX11-6
 Requires: libnuma1
 Requires: libopenssl3
 Requires: libpulse0
+Requires: vulkan-loader
 %endif
 
 %description

diff --git a/packaging/sunshine.rb b/packaging/sunshine.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ class Sunshine < Formula
     depends_on "pango"
     depends_on "pipewire"
     depends_on "pulseaudio"
+    depends_on "shaderc"
     depends_on "systemd"
+    depends_on "vulkan-loader"
     depends_on "wayland"
 
     # Jinja2 is required at build time by the glad OpenGL/EGL loader generator (Linux only).

diff --git a/scripts/linux_build.sh b/scripts/linux_build.sh
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ function add_arch_deps() {
     'opus'
     'python-jinja'  # glad OpenGL/EGL loader generator
     'python-setuptools'  # glad OpenGL/EGL loader generated, v2.0.0
+    'shaderc'
     'udev'
+    'vulkan-icd-loader'
     'wayland'
   )
 
@@ -249,6 +251,8 @@ function add_debian_based_deps() {
     "libxfixes-dev"  # X11
     "libxrandr-dev"  # X11
     "libxtst-dev"  # X11
+    "libvulkan-dev"  # Vulkan
+    "glslang-tools"  # Vulkan shader compiler
     "ninja-build"
     "npm"  # web-ui
     "python3-jinja2"  # glad OpenGL/EGL loader generator
@@ -332,6 +336,8 @@ function add_fedora_deps() {
     "python3-jinja2"  # glad OpenGL/EGL loader generator
     "python3-setuptools"  # glad OpenGL/EGL loader generated, v2.0.0
     "rpm-build"  # if you want to build an RPM binary package
+    "vulkan-loader-devel"
+    "glslc"
     "wget"  # necessary for cuda install with `run` file
     "which"  # necessary for cuda install with `run` file
     "xorg-x11-server-Xvfb"  # necessary for headless unit testing

diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
@@ -486,6 +486,11 @@ namespace config {
       false,  // strict_rc_buffer
     },  // vaapi
 
+    {
+      2,  // vk.tune (default: ll - low latency)
+      4,  // vk.rc_mode (default: vbr)
+    },
+
     {},  // capture
     {},  // encoder
     {},  // adapter_name
@@ -1137,6 +1142,9 @@ namespace config {
 
     bool_f(vars, "vaapi_strict_rc_buffer", video.vaapi.strict_rc_buffer);
 
+    int_f(vars, "vk_tune", video.vk.tune);
+    int_f(vars, "vk_rc_mode", video.vk.rc_mode);
+
     string_f(vars, "capture", video.capture);
     string_f(vars, "encoder", video.encoder);
     string_f(vars, "adapter_name", video.adapter_name);

diff --git a/src/config.h b/src/config.h
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ namespace config {
       bool strict_rc_buffer;
     } vaapi;
 
+    struct {
+      int tune;  // 0=default, 1=hq, 2=ll, 3=ull, 4=lossless
+      int rc_mode;  // 0=driver, 1=cqp, 2=cbr, 4=vbr
+    } vk;
+
     std::string capture;
     std::string encoder;
     std::string adapter_name;

diff --git a/src/platform/common.h b/src/platform/common.h
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ namespace platf {
     dxgi,  ///< DXGI
     cuda,  ///< CUDA
     videotoolbox,  ///< VideoToolbox
+    vulkan,  ///< Vulkan
     unknown  ///< Unknown
   };
 

diff --git a/src/platform/linux/graphics.h b/src/platform/linux/graphics.h
@@ -305,6 +305,9 @@ namespace egl {
     // Increment sequence when new rgb_t needs to be created
     std::uint64_t sequence;
 
+    // Frame is vertically flipped (GL convention)
+    bool y_invert {false};
+
     // PipeWire metadata
     std::optional<uint64_t> pts;
     std::optional<uint64_t> seq;