4. Kernel programming: data types and device memory

This chapter covers Introducing a simple OpenCL kernel Using OpenCL’s scalar and vector data types Understanding the OpenCL device model

In this chapter, we’re going to put aside the scaffolding that creates and deploys kernels, and start coding the kernels themselves. We’ll examine the data types available in OpenCL kernels, and that means we’ll finally get to discuss vectors. When you process data with vectors, you put aside boring, decades-old data types like char, float, and int, and use new, exciting data types like char16, int3, and float4. Now we’re cooking!