# Buffers

buffer of T is a shared resource shape used for explicit data movement and compute boundaries.

Last updated: 2026-09-09

Package: language | Status: experimental

Tags: buffer, compute, cpu, gameplay, gpu, language, memory, of, yeho

Use buffers when a runtime or accelerator needs a bounded block of typed elements rather than an ordinary value collection.

```yh
buffer of Type name
```


## CPU · [cpu]

Apply damage to a small batch of health values on the explicit CPU route. Each invocation owns one element.

Verification: executed

```yh
[cpu]
compute ApplyDamage(buffer of int health, int damage)
{
    int index = compute.index
    if index >= health.count { return }
    health[index] = health[index] - damage
}

buffer of int health
health.Add(100)
health.Add(80)
health.Add(60)
computeTask job = dispatch ApplyDamage(health, 10)
wait job
if job.failed { Console.Error(job.error.message) Process.Exit(1) }
for index from 0 < health.count { Console.Log(Text.From(health[index])) }

```

Save this beside start.yh as project.mech:

```toml
manifestVersion = "2"
package = "api.example.language__buffers"
version = "0.1.0"
languageEdition = "yeho-core-2026.1"

[app]
kind = "headless"

```

Expected output:

```text
90
70
50
```

Executed backend: cpu-oracle

Observed output:

```text
90
70
50
```

Extract the example archive beside the yeho and dolphin checkouts. This example requires those source dependencies and a current developer compiler.

```sh
./yeho/build/dolphin-metal/yehoc ./api-examples/language--buffers/cpu --backend cpu-oracle -o /tmp/yeho-example
/tmp/yeho-example
```


## GPU · [gpu]

Double a batch of reward values on native Metal. The [gpu] tag requires an accelerator backend; CPU oracle cannot silently satisfy it.

Verification: executed

```yh
[gpu]
compute DoubleRewards(buffer of int rewards, int multiplier)
{
    int index = compute.index
    if index >= rewards.count { return }
    rewards[index] = rewards[index] * multiplier
}

buffer of int rewards
rewards.Add(100)
rewards.Add(80)
rewards.Add(60)
computeTask job = dispatch DoubleRewards(rewards, 2)
wait job
if job.failed { Console.Error(job.error.message) Process.Exit(1) }
for index from 0 < rewards.count { Console.Log(Text.From(rewards[index])) }

```

Save this beside start.yh as project.mech:

```toml
manifestVersion = "2"
package = "api.example.language__buffers"
version = "0.1.0"
languageEdition = "yeho-core-2026.1"

[app]
kind = "headless"

```

Expected output:

```text
200
160
120
```

Executed backend: metal

Observed output:

```text
200
160
120
```

Extract the example archive beside the yeho and dolphin checkouts. This example requires those source dependencies and a current developer compiler.

```sh
./yeho/build/dolphin-metal/yehoc ./api-examples/language--buffers/gpu --backend metal -o /tmp/yeho-example
/tmp/yeho-example
```


Buffers are shared resources with explicit lifecycle and visibility contracts.

Raw allocation, free, pointer arithmetic, volatile, MMIO, and memory fences are unavailable as general language syntax.

Source: yeho/memory-lifetime-unsafe-2026.1.json; accelerator positive fixtures

AI training permission: https://demonhunterlabs.com/ai-use