diff --git a/docs/01-rainbow-triangle.md b/docs/01-rainbow-triangle.md
index b82aefa..a37cc12 100644
--- a/docs/01-rainbow-triangle.md
+++ b/docs/01-rainbow-triangle.md
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ struct State {
   [present mode](concepts/GLOSSARY.md#present-mode). When the window is resized,
   we reconfigure the surface with updated dimensions.
 - **`window`** — shared reference to the winit window. Stored as an `Arc` so
-  the `resize()` method and the `SurfaceError::Outdated` recovery handler can
+   the `resize()` method and the `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Outdated` recovery handler can
   access the window's current dimensions. When the surface becomes outdated
   (e.g., after a compositor restart or display hotplug), recovery requires
   reconfiguring the swapchain with the window's live size — and that requires
@@ -938,52 +938,54 @@ into for this frame. In a triple-buffered swapchain (`PresentMode::Mailbox`),
 there are up to two spare back buffers waiting for you. `get_current_texture()`
 hands you the next available one.
 
-In wgpu 29, this method returns `Result<SurfaceTexture, SurfaceError>`. On
-success you receive a `SurfaceTexture` containing the back-buffer texture. On
-failure you receive a `SurfaceError` describing what went wrong:
+In wgpu 29, this method returns `CurrentSurfaceTexture`, a standalone enum with
+7 variants describing the state of the swapchain's next back buffer:
 
-> **Key insight #5 — 4 surface error variants you must handle:** `Ok(texture)` —
-> render normally. `SurfaceError::Timeout` — skip frame (GPU late).
-> `SurfaceError::Outdated` — surface changed, reconfigure when possible.
-> `SurfaceError::Lost` — surface destroyed, cannot recover without re-init.
-> `SurfaceError::OutOfMemory` — GPU memory exhausted, fatal.
+> **Key insight #5 — 7 surface texture variants you must handle:**
+> `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Success(frame)` — render normally.
+> `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Suboptimal(frame)` — render (buffer available but
+> not ideal, e.g., format mismatch). `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Timeout` — skip
+> frame (GPU late). `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Occluded` — skip frame (window
+> fully covered). `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Outdated` — surface changed,
+> reconfigure. `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Lost` — surface destroyed, cannot
+> recover without re-init.
+> `CurrentSurfaceTexture::Validation { source, description }` — API
+> validation caught an error, skip frame and log.
 
-WHY `match` on the Result: `get_current_texture()` returns a `Result`, so you
-use standard Rust error handling. The happy path (`Ok`) extracts the
-`SurfaceTexture`, and the error path (`Err`) matches on the specific
-`SurfaceError` variant. The Rust compiler enforces exhaustive matching.
+WHY `match` on the enum: `get_current_texture()` returns a
+`CurrentSurfaceTexture` enum, not a `Result`. You match on the variant
+directly. `Success` and `Suboptimal` both carry a `SurfaceTexture` you can
+render into — the only difference is that `Suboptimal` signals the buffer may
+not be ideal (e.g., a format downgrade). The Rust compiler enforces exhaustive
+matching across all 7 variants.
 
 ### The Complete `render` Implementation
 
 ```rust
 fn render(&mut self) {
     let frame = match self.surface.get_current_texture() {
-        Ok(frame) => frame,
-        Err(e) => {
-            match &e {
-                wgpu::SurfaceError::Timeout => {
-                    log::warn!("Surface error: Timeout — skipping frame");
-                }
-                wgpu::SurfaceError::Outdated => {
-                    log::warn!("Surface error: Outdated — resizing");
-                    let size = wgpu::dpi::PhysicalSize {
-                        width: self.config.width,
-                        height: self.config.height,
-                    };
-                    self.resize(size);
-                }
-                // The window field stored in State enables Outdated recovery:
-                // when the compositor or display server invalidates the surface,
-                // we can reconfigure the swapchain using the window's current
-                // dimensions (self.window.inner_size()) without needing a
-                // separate reference to the window from the event loop.
-                wgpu::SurfaceError::Lost => {
-                    log::error!("Surface error: Lost — cannot recover without re-creating State");
-                }
-                wgpu::SurfaceError::OutOfMemory => {
-                    log::error!("Surface error: OutOfMemory — GPU memory exhausted");
-                }
-            }
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Success(frame)
+        | wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Suboptimal(frame) => frame,
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Timeout => {
+            log::warn!("Surface timeout — skipping frame");
+            return;
+        }
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Occluded => {
+            log::warn!("Surface occluded — skipping frame");
+            return;
+        }
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Outdated => {
+            log::warn!("Surface outdated — resizing");
+            let size = self.window.inner_size();
+            self.resize(size);
+            return;
+        }
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Lost => {
+            log::error!("Surface lost — cannot recover without re-creating State");
+            return;
+        }
+        wgpu::CurrentSurfaceTexture::Validation { source, description } => {
+            log::error!("Surface validation error: {:?} — {}", source, description);
             return;
         }
     };
@@ -1169,19 +1171,26 @@ buffer from "render target" to "front buffer" on the next vsync.
 
 ### Why the Match Arms Differ
 
-- **`Ok(frame)`** — the swapchain delivered a `SurfaceTexture` you can render
-  into. Extract `frame.texture` to create a view, render, then call
-  `frame.present()`.
-- **`SurfaceError::Timeout`** — the GPU exceeded the wait threshold for a back
-  buffer. Skip the frame. The GPU will catch up.
-- **`SurfaceError::Outdated`** — the swapchain was created for a resolution
-  that no longer matches the window. Reconfigure the surface to match the
-  current dimensions.
-- **`SurfaceError::Lost`** — the GPU or display server has been reset. Without
-  re-creating the device and surface, you cannot recover. In a real
-  application, you'd trigger a full re-initialization.
-- **`SurfaceError::OutOfMemory`** — GPU memory is exhausted. This is a fatal
-  condition requiring process-level recovery.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Success(frame)` / `Suboptimal(frame)`** — the
+  swapchain delivered a `SurfaceTexture` you can render into. `Success` means
+  the buffer is ideal. `Suboptimal` means the buffer is available but may not
+  be ideal (e.g., format mismatch, downgraded resolution). Both carry the
+  same `SurfaceTexture`. Extract `frame.texture` to create a view, render,
+  then call `frame.present()`.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Timeout`** — the GPU exceeded the wait threshold
+  for a back buffer. Skip the frame. The GPU will catch up.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Occluded`** — the window is fully covered by
+  another window. Skip the frame; there's no point rendering to an invisible
+  surface.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Outdated`** — the swapchain was created for a
+  resolution that no longer matches the window. Reconfigure the surface
+  using `self.window.inner_size()` to match the current dimensions.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Lost`** — the GPU or display server has been
+  reset. Without re-creating the device and surface, you cannot recover. In
+  a real application, you'd trigger a full re-initialization.
+- **`CurrentSurfaceTexture::Validation { source, description }`** — the wgpu
+  validation layer caught an API misuse. Log the diagnostic and skip the
+  frame.
 
 ## S8: Handling Window Resize