diff --git a/wgpu-bindings/wgpu.h b/wgpu-bindings/wgpu.h
index cbfcc4508..11fc5b373 100644
--- a/wgpu-bindings/wgpu.h
+++ b/wgpu-bindings/wgpu.h
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ typedef struct {
 
 #define WGPUWHITE (Color){ .r = 1, .g = 1, .b = 1, .a = 1 }
 
-WGPUDeviceId wgpu_adapter_create_device(WGPUAdapterId adapter_id, WGPUDeviceDescriptor _desc);
+WGPUDeviceId wgpu_adapter_create_device(WGPUAdapterId adapter_id,
+                                        const WGPUDeviceDescriptor *_desc);
 
 WGPUComputePassId wgpu_command_buffer_begin_compute_pass(WGPUCommandBufferId command_buffer_id);
 
@@ -296,34 +297,35 @@ WGPUCommandBufferId wgpu_compute_pass_end_pass(WGPUComputePassId pass_id);
 WGPUInstanceId wgpu_create_instance(void);
 
 WGPUAttachmentStateId wgpu_device_create_attachment_state(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                          WGPUAttachmentStateDescriptor desc);
+                                                          const WGPUAttachmentStateDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUBindGroupLayoutId wgpu_device_create_bind_group_layout(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                           WGPUBindGroupLayoutDescriptor desc);
+                                                           const WGPUBindGroupLayoutDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUBlendStateId wgpu_device_create_blend_state(WGPUDeviceId _device_id,
-                                                WGPUBlendStateDescriptor desc);
+                                                const WGPUBlendStateDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUCommandBufferId wgpu_device_create_command_buffer(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                      WGPUCommandBufferDescriptor _desc);
+                                                      const WGPUCommandBufferDescriptor *_desc);
 
 WGPUDepthStencilStateId wgpu_device_create_depth_stencil_state(WGPUDeviceId _device_id,
-                                                               WGPUDepthStencilStateDescriptor desc);
+                                                               const WGPUDepthStencilStateDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUPipelineLayoutId wgpu_device_create_pipeline_layout(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                        WGPUPipelineLayoutDescriptor desc);
+                                                        const WGPUPipelineLayoutDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPURenderPipelineId wgpu_device_create_render_pipeline(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                        WGPURenderPipelineDescriptor desc);
+                                                        const WGPURenderPipelineDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUShaderModuleId wgpu_device_create_shader_module(WGPUDeviceId device_id,
-                                                    WGPUShaderModuleDescriptor desc);
+                                                    const WGPUShaderModuleDescriptor *desc);
 
-WGPUTextureId wgpu_device_create_texture(WGPUDeviceId device_id, WGPUTextureDescriptor desc);
+WGPUTextureId wgpu_device_create_texture(WGPUDeviceId device_id, const WGPUTextureDescriptor *desc);
 
 WGPUQueueId wgpu_device_get_queue(WGPUDeviceId device_id);
 
-WGPUAdapterId wgpu_instance_get_adapter(WGPUInstanceId instance_id, WGPUAdapterDescriptor desc);
+WGPUAdapterId wgpu_instance_get_adapter(WGPUInstanceId instance_id,
+                                        const WGPUAdapterDescriptor *desc);
 
 void wgpu_queue_submit(WGPUQueueId queue_id,
                        const WGPUCommandBufferId *command_buffer_ptr,
diff --git a/wgpu-native/src/conv.rs b/wgpu-native/src/conv.rs
index d2c977ed8..f467fbeb5 100644
--- a/wgpu-native/src/conv.rs
+++ b/wgpu-native/src/conv.rs
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ pub(crate) fn map_primitive_topology(
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn map_blend_state_descriptor(
-    desc: pipeline::BlendStateDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::BlendStateDescriptor,
 ) -> hal::pso::ColorBlendDesc {
     let color_mask = desc.write_mask;
     let blend_state = match desc.blend_enabled {
         true => hal::pso::BlendState::On {
-            color: map_blend_descriptor(desc.color),
-            alpha: map_blend_descriptor(desc.alpha),
+            color: map_blend_descriptor(&desc.color),
+            alpha: map_blend_descriptor(&desc.alpha),
         },
         false => hal::pso::BlendState::Off,
     };
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ fn map_color_write_flags(flags: u32) -> hal::pso::ColorMask {
     value
 }
 
-fn map_blend_descriptor(blend_desc: pipeline::BlendDescriptor) -> hal::pso::BlendOp {
+fn map_blend_descriptor(blend_desc: &pipeline::BlendDescriptor) -> hal::pso::BlendOp {
     use hal::pso::BlendOp as H;
     use pipeline::BlendOperation::*;
     match blend_desc.operation {
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ fn map_blend_factor(blend_factor: pipeline::BlendFactor) -> hal::pso::Factor {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn map_depth_stencil_state(
-    desc: pipeline::DepthStencilStateDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::DepthStencilStateDescriptor,
 ) -> hal::pso::DepthStencilDesc {
     hal::pso::DepthStencilDesc {
         // TODO DepthTest::Off?
@@ -175,14 +175,14 @@ pub(crate) fn map_depth_stencil_state(
         depth_bounds: false, // TODO
         // TODO StencilTest::Off?
         stencil: hal::pso::StencilTest::On {
-            front: map_stencil_face(desc.front, desc.stencil_read_mask, desc.stencil_write_mask),
-            back: map_stencil_face(desc.back, desc.stencil_read_mask, desc.stencil_write_mask),
+            front: map_stencil_face(&desc.front, desc.stencil_read_mask, desc.stencil_write_mask),
+            back: map_stencil_face(&desc.back, desc.stencil_read_mask, desc.stencil_write_mask),
         },
     }
 }
 
 fn map_stencil_face(
-    stencil_state_face_desc: pipeline::StencilStateFaceDescriptor,
+    stencil_state_face_desc: &pipeline::StencilStateFaceDescriptor,
     stencil_read_mask: u32,
     stencil_write_mask: u32,
 ) -> hal::pso::StencilFace {
diff --git a/wgpu-native/src/device.rs b/wgpu-native/src/device.rs
index 79796efc7..b9941a819 100644
--- a/wgpu-native/src/device.rs
+++ b/wgpu-native/src/device.rs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ pub(crate) struct ShaderModule<B: hal::Backend> {
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_texture(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: resource::TextureDescriptor,
+    desc: &resource::TextureDescriptor,
 ) -> TextureId {
     let kind = conv::map_texture_dimension_size(desc.dimension, desc.size);
     let format = conv::map_texture_format(desc.format);
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_texture(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_bind_group_layout(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: binding_model::BindGroupLayoutDescriptor,
+    desc: &binding_model::BindGroupLayoutDescriptor,
 ) -> BindGroupLayoutId {
     let bindings = unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(desc.bindings, desc.bindings_length) };
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_bind_group_layout(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_pipeline_layout(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: binding_model::PipelineLayoutDescriptor,
+    desc: &binding_model::PipelineLayoutDescriptor,
 ) -> PipelineLayoutId {
     let bind_group_layouts = unsafe {
         slice::from_raw_parts(desc.bind_group_layouts, desc.bind_group_layouts_length)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_pipeline_layout(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_blend_state(
     _device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: pipeline::BlendStateDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::BlendStateDescriptor,
 ) -> BlendStateId {
     HUB.blend_states
         .lock()
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_blend_state(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_depth_stencil_state(
     _device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: pipeline::DepthStencilStateDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::DepthStencilStateDescriptor,
 ) -> DepthStencilStateId {
     HUB.depth_stencil_states
         .lock()
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_depth_stencil_state(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_shader_module(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: pipeline::ShaderModuleDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::ShaderModuleDescriptor,
 ) -> ShaderModuleId {
     let spv = unsafe {
         slice::from_raw_parts(desc.code.bytes, desc.code.length)
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_shader_module(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_command_buffer(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    _desc: command::CommandBufferDescriptor,
+    _desc: &command::CommandBufferDescriptor,
 ) -> CommandBufferId {
     let mut device_guard = HUB.devices.lock();
     let device = device_guard.get_mut(device_id);
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_queue_submit(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_attachment_state(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: pipeline::AttachmentStateDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::AttachmentStateDescriptor,
 ) -> AttachmentStateId {
     let device_guard = HUB.devices.lock();
     let device = &device_guard.get(device_id).raw;
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_attachment_state(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_device_create_render_pipeline(
     device_id: DeviceId,
-    desc: pipeline::RenderPipelineDescriptor,
+    desc: &pipeline::RenderPipelineDescriptor,
 ) -> RenderPipelineId {
     // TODO
     let extent = hal::window::Extent2D {
diff --git a/wgpu-native/src/instance.rs b/wgpu-native/src/instance.rs
index 5217bae11..2c2ad3e14 100644
--- a/wgpu-native/src/instance.rs
+++ b/wgpu-native/src/instance.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_create_instance() -> InstanceId {
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_instance_get_adapter(
     instance_id: InstanceId,
-    desc: AdapterDescriptor,
+    desc: &AdapterDescriptor,
 ) -> AdapterId {
     let instance_guard = HUB.instances.lock();
     let instance = instance_guard.get(instance_id);
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn wgpu_instance_get_adapter(
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn wgpu_adapter_create_device(
     adapter_id: AdapterId,
-    _desc: DeviceDescriptor,
+    _desc: &DeviceDescriptor,
 ) -> DeviceId {
     let mut adapter_guard = HUB.adapters.lock();
     let adapter = adapter_guard.get_mut(adapter_id);
diff --git a/wgpu-rs/src/lib.rs b/wgpu-rs/src/lib.rs
index 3daa29907..2efffe217 100644
--- a/wgpu-rs/src/lib.rs
+++ b/wgpu-rs/src/lib.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl Instance {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn get_adapter(&self, desc: AdapterDescriptor) -> Adapter {
+    pub fn get_adapter(&self, desc: &AdapterDescriptor) -> Adapter {
         Adapter {
             id: wgn::wgpu_instance_get_adapter(self.id, desc),
         }
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ impl Instance {
 }
 
 impl Adapter {
-    pub fn create_device(&self, desc: DeviceDescriptor) -> Device {
+    pub fn create_device(&self, desc: &DeviceDescriptor) -> Device {
         Device {
             id: wgn::wgpu_adapter_create_device(self.id, desc),
         }
@@ -154,13 +154,13 @@ impl Device {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_command_buffer(&self, desc: CommandBufferDescriptor) -> CommandBuffer {
+    pub fn create_command_buffer(&self, desc: &CommandBufferDescriptor) -> CommandBuffer {
         CommandBuffer {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_command_buffer(self.id, desc),
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_bind_group_layout(&self, desc: BindGroupLayoutDescriptor) -> BindGroupLayout {
+    pub fn create_bind_group_layout(&self, desc: &BindGroupLayoutDescriptor) -> BindGroupLayout {
         BindGroupLayout {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_bind_group_layout(self.id, wgn::BindGroupLayoutDescriptor {
                 bindings: desc.bindings.as_ptr(),
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ impl Device {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_pipeline_layout(&self, desc: PipelineLayoutDescriptor) -> PipelineLayout {
+    pub fn create_pipeline_layout(&self, desc: &PipelineLayoutDescriptor) -> PipelineLayout {
         PipelineLayout {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_pipeline_layout(self.id, wgn::PipelineLayoutDescriptor {
                 bind_group_layouts: desc.bind_group_layouts.as_ptr() as *const _,
@@ -178,19 +178,19 @@ impl Device {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_blend_state(&self, desc: BlendStateDescriptor) -> BlendState {
+    pub fn create_blend_state(&self, desc: &BlendStateDescriptor) -> BlendState {
         BlendState {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_blend_state(self.id, desc),
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_depth_stencil_state(&self, desc: DepthStencilStateDescriptor) -> DepthStencilState {
+    pub fn create_depth_stencil_state(&self, desc: &DepthStencilStateDescriptor) -> DepthStencilState {
         DepthStencilState {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_depth_stencil_state(self.id, desc),
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_attachment_state(&self, desc: AttachmentStateDescriptor) -> AttachmentState {
+    pub fn create_attachment_state(&self, desc: &AttachmentStateDescriptor) -> AttachmentState {
         AttachmentState {
             id: wgn::wgpu_device_create_attachment_state(self.id, wgn::AttachmentStateDescriptor {
                 formats: desc.formats.as_ptr(),
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ impl Device {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn create_render_pipeline(&self, desc: RenderPipelineDescriptor) -> RenderPipeline {
+    pub fn create_render_pipeline(&self, desc: &RenderPipelineDescriptor) -> RenderPipeline {
         let entry_points = desc.stages
             .iter()
             .map(|ps| CString::new(ps.entry_point).unwrap())
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ impl Device {
 }
 
 impl CommandBuffer {
-    pub fn begin_render_pass(&mut self, desc: RenderPassDescriptor<&TextureView>) -> RenderPass {
+    pub fn begin_render_pass(&mut self, desc: &RenderPassDescriptor<&TextureView>) -> RenderPass {
         let colors = desc.color_attachments
             .iter()
             .map(|ca| RenderPassColorAttachmentDescriptor {