An API is provided that enables programmability of a 3D chip, wherein
programming or algorithmic elements written by the developer can be
downloaded to the chip, thereby programming the chip to perform those
algorithms. A developer writes a routine that is downloadable to a 3D
graphics chip. There are also a set of algorithmic elements that are
provided in connection with the API that have already been programmed for
the developer, that are downloadable to the programmable chip for
improved performance. Thus, a developer may download preexisting API
objects to a 3D graphics chip. A developer adheres to a specific format
for packing up an algorithmic element, or set of instructions, for
implementation by a 3D graphics chip. The developer packs the instruction
set into an array of numbers, by referring to a list of `tokens`
understood by the 3D graphics chip. This array of numbers in turn is
mapped correctly to the 3D graphics chip for implementation of the
algorithmic element by the 3D graphics chip.