Why can vkFreeDescriptorSets fail when every other resource releasing functions can't?

[oddlama]

Any function that releases a resource, (such as vkDestroy* and vkFree*) cannot fail.
With the sole exception of vkFreeDescriptorSets.

vkFreeDescriptorSets can fail with both VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY and VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY.

The specification does not provide reasoning for this, and it complicates error handling in language bindings which such as Vulkan-Hpp (See PR#338 in Vulkan-Hpp).

It would be great to know more about the reasoning behind this decision.

[NicolBolas]

Note that vkResetDescriptorPool can also fail.

[oddhack]

We already have an internal discussion going on about this. It appears this was probably an oversight, and if we can establish that all implementations only return successfully, we'll probably add a restriction to the allowed return value and a Note explaining the discrepancy. We are unlikely to actually change the API to remove the return value, however.

[oddlama]

That is good to hear. Please tell us when you have come to a conclusion internally.

[krOoze]

Seems fixed in 1.1.128

[oddhack]

Yes, thanks. Lost track of the internal / external issue association.