OpenCL 3.0.16 Released With One New Extension, Semaphores & External Memory Finalized

OpenCL 3.0 debuted back in 2020 and while we haven't heard talks of any major revision on the horizon, it does continue to see new point releases. Released on Thursday was OpenCL 3.0.16 that adds one new extension while finalizing eight formerly provisional extensions.

The new extension with OpenCL 3.0.16 is cl_khr_kernel_clock, which allows the ability for a kernel to sample the value from one of three clocks provided by compute units. The cl_khr_kernel_clock kernel clock extension was worked on by Arm, Imagination, Intel, and Qualcomm engineers.

The extensions that have been finalized after previously being published as provisional extensions include: cl_khr_semaphore, cl_khr_external_semaphore, cl_khr_external_semaphore_opaque_fd, cl_khr_external_semaphore_sync_fd, cl_khr_external_memory, cl_khr_external_memory_dma_buf, cl_khr_external_memory_opaque_fd, and cl_khr_external_memory_win32. Basically OpenCL's semaphores and external memory functionality is now finalized.

OpenCL 3.0.16 also contains several clarifications, strengthened the requirements for the CL_DEVICE_TYPE query, and various other minor changes to this open compute specification.

Downloads for the OpenCL 3.0.16 spec are available from GitHub.