The Vulkan Runtime does compile shaders to machine code at vkCreateShaderModule . That call is fast because it does almost nothing. The real compilation happens at vkCreateGraphicsPipeline .
The reality is far more complex, and far more powerful. The —that background process you see in Task Manager ( VulkanRT or vulkaninfo.exe )—is not the driver. It is a user-mode intermediary that fundamentally changes the contract between your application and the silicon. vulkan run time
Beyond the Driver: Deconstructing the Vulkan Runtime and Why It’s More Than Just a “Driver Replacement” The Vulkan Runtime does compile shaders to machine