I’m building a video game engine using C++ as the coding language and Vulkan for graphics. I am trying to set up a generic renderer using Vulkan that is flexible and will render objects based on a vector that is supplied to it. The renderer will also handle the creation of the window using GLFW and use GLM for all relevant math calls. I am using the ASSIMP library to load 3d models and animations.


Here is some of the relevant header and source file code:

Renderer.h:

#pragma once

#include <vulkan/vulkan.h>
#include "Window.h"
#include <vector>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <set>
#include <optional>
#include <iostream>
#include "Pipeline.h"
#include "Material.h"
#include "Mesh.h"

struct QueueFamilyIndices
{
	std::optional<uint32_t> graphicsFamily;
	std::optional<uint32_t> presentFamily;

	bool IsComplete()
	{
		return graphicsFamily.has_value() && presentFamily.has_value();
	}
};

struct SwapChainSupportDetails {
	VkSurfaceCapabilitiesKHR capabilities;
	std::vector<VkSurfaceFormatKHR> formats;
	std::vector<VkPresentModeKHR> presentModes;
};



class Renderer
{
public:
	Renderer();
	~Renderer();

	void Initialize(GLFWwindow* window);
	void Shutdown();

	void BeginFrame();
	void EndFrame();

	VkDescriptorSetLayout CreateDescriptorSetLayout();
	VkDescriptorPool CreateDescriptorPool(uint32_t maxSets);
	VkDevice* GetDevice();
	VkPhysicalDevice* GetPhysicalDevice();
	VkCommandPool* GetCommandPool();
	VkQueue* GetGraphicsQueue();
	VkCommandBuffer* GetCurrentCommandBuffer();
	std::shared_ptr<Pipeline> GetPipeline();
	void CreateGraphicsPipeline(Mesh* mesh, Material* material);

private:
	bool shutdownInProgress;

	std::vector<VkImage> swapChainImages;
	std::vector<VkImageView> swapChainImageViews;
	VkExtent2D swapChainExtent;
	VkRenderPass renderPass;
	uint32_t imageIndex;
	std::shared_ptr<Pipeline> pipeline;

	VkFormat swapChainImageFormat;

	std::vector<VkCommandBuffer> commandBuffers;

	void CreateImageViews();
	void CleanupImageViews();
	void CreateRenderPass();
	void CleanupRenderPass();

	void CreateSurface();
	void DestroySurface();

	void CreateInstance();
	void CleanupInstance();
	void ChoosePhysicalDevice();
	void CreateDevice();
	void CleanupDevice();
	void CreateSwapchain();
	void CleanupSwapchain();
	void CreateCommandPool();
	void CleanupCommandPool();
	void CreateFramebuffers();
	void CleanupFramebuffers();

	void CreateCommandBuffers();
	void CleanupCommandBuffers();

	

	GLFWwindow* window;
	VkInstance instance = VK_NULL_HANDLE;
	VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice = VK_NULL_HANDLE;
	VkDevice device = VK_NULL_HANDLE;

	VkSurfaceKHR surface;
	VkSwapchainKHR swapchain;
	VkCommandPool commandPool;
	VkCommandBuffer currentCommandBuffer;

	std::vector<VkFramebuffer> framebuffers;

	// Additional Vulkan objects needed for rendering…

	const uint32_t kMaxFramesInFlight = 2;
	std::vector<VkSemaphore> imageAvailableSemaphores;
	std::vector<VkSemaphore> renderFinishedSemaphores;
	std::vector<VkFence> inFlightFences;
	size_t currentFrame;

	VkQueue graphicsQueue;
	VkQueue presentQueue;

	void CreateSyncObjects();
	void CleanupSyncObjects();

	SwapChainSupportDetails querySwapChainSupport(VkPhysicalDevice device, VkSurfaceKHR surface);
	VkSurfaceFormatKHR chooseSwapSurfaceFormat(const std::vector<VkSurfaceFormatKHR>& availableFormats);
	VkPresentModeKHR chooseSwapPresentMode(const std::vector<VkPresentModeKHR>& availablePresentModes);
	VkExtent2D chooseSwapExtent(const VkSurfaceCapabilitiesKHR& capabilities, GLFWwindow* window);

	std::vector<const char*> deviceExtensions = {
		VK_KHR_SWAPCHAIN_EXTENSION_NAME
	};

	std::vector<const char*> CheckPhysicalDeviceExtensionSupport(VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice);
	QueueFamilyIndices GetQueueFamilyIndices(VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice);
};

Material.h:

#pragma once

#include <vulkan/vulkan.h>
#include "Texture.h"
#include "Shader.h"
#include <stdexcept>
#include <memory> // Don’t forget to include <memory>

class Material
{
public:
    Material();
    ~Material();

    void Initialize(const std::string& vertShaderPath, const std::string& fragShaderPath, const std::string& texturePath, VkDevice device, VkDescriptorSetLayout descriptorSetLayout, VkDescriptorPool descriptorPool, VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice, VkCommandPool commandPool, VkQueue graphicsQueue);
    void Cleanup();

    void LoadTexture(const std::string& filename, VkDevice device, VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice, VkCommandPool commandPool, VkQueue graphicsQueue);
    void LoadShaders(const std::string& vertFilename, const std::string& fragFilename, VkDevice device);

    void UpdateBufferBinding(VkDescriptorSet descriptorSet, VkBuffer newBuffer, VkDevice device, VkDeviceSize devicesize);
    VkDescriptorSet GetDescriptorSet() const;
    VkPipelineLayout GetPipelineLayout() const;

    std::shared_ptr <Shader> GetvertexShader();
    std::shared_ptr <Shader> GetfragmentShader();

private:
    VkDevice device;
    std::shared_ptr <Shader> vertexShader;
    std::shared_ptr <Shader> fragmentShader;
    std::shared_ptr<Texture> texture;

    void CreateDescriptorSet(VkDescriptorSetLayout descriptorSetLayout, VkDescriptorPool descriptorPool);
    void CreatePipelineLayout(VkDescriptorSetLayout descriptorSetLayout);
    

    VkDescriptorSet descriptorSet;
    VkPipelineLayout pipelineLayout;
};

Pipeline.h:

#pragma once

#include <vulkan/vulkan.h>
#include <vector>
#include <array>
#include <stdexcept>
#include "Shader.h"

class Pipeline
{
public:
	Pipeline();
	~Pipeline();

	void CreateGraphicsPipeline(const std::vector<VkVertexInputBindingDescription>& vertexBindingDescriptions,
		const std::vector<VkVertexInputAttributeDescription>& vertexAttributeDescriptions,
		VkExtent2D swapchainExtent,
		const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders,
		VkRenderPass renderPass,
		VkPipelineLayout pipelineLayout,
		VkDevice device);

	void Cleanup();

	VkPipeline GetPipeline() const;

private:
	VkDevice device;
	VkPipeline pipeline;

	void CreateShaderStages(const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders, std::vector<VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo>& shaderStages);
};

Mesh.h:

#pragma once

#include <vector>
#include <vulkan/vulkan.h>
#include <glm/glm.hpp>
#include "BufferUtils.h"

struct Vertex
{
	glm::vec3 position;
	glm::vec3 color;
};

class Mesh
{
public:
	Mesh();
	~Mesh();

	void Initialize(std::vector<Vertex> vertices, std::vector<uint32_t> indices, VkDevice device, VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice, VkCommandPool commandPool, VkQueue graphicsQueue);
	void Initialize(VkDevice device, VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice, VkCommandPool commandPool, VkQueue graphicsQueue);
	void Cleanup();

	const std::vector<Vertex>& GetVertices() const;
	const std::vector<uint32_t>& GetIndices() const;
	VkBuffer GetVertexBuffer() const;
	VkBuffer GetIndexBuffer() const;

	void SetVertices(const std::vector<Vertex>& vertices);
	void SetIndices(const std::vector<uint32_t>& indices);

	std::vector<VkVertexInputBindingDescription> GetVertexInputBindingDescriptions() const;
	std::vector<VkVertexInputAttributeDescription> GetVertexInputAttributeDescriptions() const;

private:
	VkDevice device;
	std::vector<Vertex> vertices;
	std::vector<uint32_t> indices;

	VkBuffer vertexBuffer;
	VkDeviceMemory vertexBufferMemory;
	VkBuffer indexBuffer;
	VkDeviceMemory indexBufferMemory;
};

Pipeline.h:

#pragma once

#include <vulkan/vulkan.h>
#include <vector>
#include <array>
#include <stdexcept>
#include "Shader.h"

class Pipeline
{
public:
	Pipeline();
	~Pipeline();

	void CreateGraphicsPipeline(const std::vector<VkVertexInputBindingDescription>& vertexBindingDescriptions,
		const std::vector<VkVertexInputAttributeDescription>& vertexAttributeDescriptions,
		VkExtent2D swapchainExtent,
		const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders,
		VkRenderPass renderPass,
		VkPipelineLayout pipelineLayout,
		VkDevice device);

	void Cleanup();

	VkPipeline GetPipeline() const;

private:
	VkDevice device;
	VkPipeline pipeline;

	void CreateShaderStages(const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders, std::vector<VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo>& shaderStages);
};

Pipeline.cpp:

#include "Pipeline.h"

Pipeline::Pipeline()
	: device(VK_NULL_HANDLE), pipeline(VK_NULL_HANDLE)
{
}

Pipeline::~Pipeline()
{
	Cleanup();
}

void Pipeline::CreateGraphicsPipeline(const std::vector<VkVertexInputBindingDescription>& vertexBindingDescriptions,
	const std::vector<VkVertexInputAttributeDescription>& vertexAttributeDescriptions,
	VkExtent2D swapchainExtent,
	const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders,
	VkRenderPass renderPass,
	VkPipelineLayout pipelineLayout,
	VkDevice device)
{
	this->device = device;

	VkPipelineVertexInputStateCreateInfo vertexInputInfo{};
	vertexInputInfo.sType = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_PIPELINE_VERTEX_INPUT_STATE_CREATE_INFO;
	vertexInputInfo.vertexBindingDescriptionCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(vertexBindingDescriptions.size());
	vertexInputInfo.pVertexBindingDescriptions = vertexBindingDescriptions.data();
	vertexInputInfo.vertexAttributeDescriptionCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(vertexAttributeDescriptions.size());
	vertexInputInfo.pVertexAttributeDescriptions = vertexAttributeDescriptions.data();

	VkPipelineInputAssemblyStateCreateInfo inputAssembly{};
	inputAssembly.sType = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_PIPELINE_INPUT_ASSEMBLY_STATE_CREATE_INFO;
	inputAssembly.topology = VK_PRIMITIVE_TOPOLOGY_TRIANGLE_LIST;
	inputAssembly.primitiveRestartEnable = VK_FALSE;

	VkViewport viewport{};
	viewport.x = 0.0f;
	viewport.y = 0.0f;
	viewport.width = static_cast<float>(swapchainExtent.width);
	viewport.height = static_cast<float>(swapchainExtent.height);
	viewport.minDepth = 0.0f;
	viewport.maxDepth = 1.0f;

	VkRect2D scissor{};
	scissor.offset = { 0, 0 };
	scissor.extent = swapchainExtent;

	VkPipelineViewportStateCreateInfo viewportState{};
	viewportState.sType = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_PIPELINE_VIEWPORT_STATE_CREATE_INFO;
	viewportState.viewportCount = 1;
	viewportState.pViewports = &viewport;
	viewportState.scissorCount = 1;
	viewportState.pScissors = &scissor;

	VkPipelineRasterizationStateCreateInfo rasterizer{};
	// …

	VkPipelineMultisampleStateCreateInfo multisampling{};
	// …

	VkPipelineColorBlendAttachmentState colorBlendAttachment{};
	// …

	VkPipelineColorBlendStateCreateInfo colorBlending{};
	// …

	std::vector<VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo> shaderStages;
	CreateShaderStages(shaders, shaderStages);

	VkGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo pipelineCreateInfo{};
	pipelineCreateInfo.sType = VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_GRAPHICS_PIPELINE_CREATE_INFO;
	pipelineCreateInfo.stageCount = static_cast<uint32_t>(shaderStages.size());
	pipelineCreateInfo.pStages = shaderStages.data();
	pipelineCreateInfo.pVertexInputState = &vertexInputInfo;
	pipelineCreateInfo.pInputAssemblyState = &inputAssembly;
	pipelineCreateInfo.pViewportState = &viewportState;
	pipelineCreateInfo.pRasterizationState = &rasterizer;
	pipelineCreateInfo.pMultisampleState = &multisampling;
	pipelineCreateInfo.pColorBlendState = &colorBlending;
	pipelineCreateInfo.layout = pipelineLayout;
	pipelineCreateInfo.renderPass = renderPass;
	pipelineCreateInfo.subpass = 0;

	if (vkCreateGraphicsPipelines(device, VK_NULL_HANDLE, 1, &pipelineCreateInfo, nullptr, &pipeline) != VK_SUCCESS)
	{
		throw std::runtime_error("Failed to create graphics pipeline.");
	}
}

void Pipeline::Cleanup()
{
	if (pipeline != VK_NULL_HANDLE)
	{
		vkDestroyPipeline(device, pipeline, nullptr);
		pipeline = VK_NULL_HANDLE;
	}
}

VkPipeline Pipeline::GetPipeline() const
{
	return pipeline;
}

void Pipeline::CreateShaderStages(const std::vector<Shader*>& shaders, std::vector<VkPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo>& shaderStages)
{
	for (auto shader : shaders)
	{
		shaderStages.push_back(shader->GetPipelineShaderStageCreateInfo());
	}
}


I'm getting an access violation error at the following link in the Pipeline::CreateGraphicsPipeline method: 

if (vkCreateGraphicsPipelines(device, VK_NULL_HANDLE, 1, &pipelineCreateInfo, nullptr, &pipeline) != VK_SUCCESS)

Does the pipeline object need to be created before this can be run or is there another issue that could be causing this?