diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.cpp b/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.cpp
index be0dd15435..3c0f696024 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.cpp
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.cpp
@@ -84,6 +84,30 @@ const char* GLProgram::ATTRIBUTE_NAME_POSITION = "a_position";
 const char* GLProgram::ATTRIBUTE_NAME_TEX_COORD = "a_texCoord";
 
 
+GLProgram* GLProgram::createWithByteArrays(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray)
+{
+    auto ret = new (std::nothrow) GLProgram();
+    if(ret && ret->initWithByteArrays(vShaderByteArray, fShaderByteArray)) {
+        ret->autorelease();
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    CC_SAFE_DELETE(ret);
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
+GLProgram* GLProgram::createWithFilenames(const std::string& vShaderFilename, const std::string& fShaderFilename)
+{
+    auto ret = new (std::nothrow) GLProgram();
+    if(ret && ret->initWithFilenames(vShaderFilename, fShaderFilename)) {
+        ret->autorelease();
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    CC_SAFE_DELETE(ret);
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
 GLProgram::GLProgram()
 : _program(0)
 , _vertShader(0)
@@ -178,6 +202,18 @@ bool GLProgram::initWithByteArrays(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar*
 }
 
 #if (CC_TARGET_PLATFORM == CC_PLATFORM_WINRT) || (CC_TARGET_PLATFORM == CC_PLATFORM_WP8)
+GLProgram* GLProgram::createWithPrecompiledProgramByteArray(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray)
+{
+    auto ret = new (std::nothrow) GLProgram();
+    if(ret && ret->initWithPrecompiledProgramByteArray(vShaderByteArray, fShaderByteArray)) {
+        ret->autorelease();
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    CC_SAFE_DELETE(ret);
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
 bool GLProgram::initWithPrecompiledProgramByteArray(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray)
 {
     bool haveProgram = false;
diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.h b/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.h
index 5d2325134a..36f9c67cd6 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.h
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCGLProgram.h
@@ -172,14 +172,8 @@ public:
     static const char* ATTRIBUTE_NAME_COLOR;
     static const char* ATTRIBUTE_NAME_POSITION;
     static const char* ATTRIBUTE_NAME_TEX_COORD;
-    /**
-     * @js ctor
-     */
+
     GLProgram();
-    /**
-     * @js NA
-     * @lua NA
-     */
     virtual ~GLProgram();
     /** Initializes the GLProgram with a vertex and fragment with bytes array 
      * @js initWithString
@@ -188,6 +182,7 @@ public:
 
 #if (CC_TARGET_PLATFORM == CC_PLATFORM_WINRT) || (CC_TARGET_PLATFORM == CC_PLATFORM_WP8)
     /** Initializes the CCGLProgram with precompiled shader program */
+    static GLProgram* createWithPrecompiledProgramByteArray(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray);
     bool initWithPrecompiledProgramByteArray(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray);
 #endif
 
@@ -195,12 +190,14 @@ public:
      * @js initWithString
      * @lua initWithString
      */
+    static GLProgram* createWithByteArrays(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray);
     bool initWithByteArrays(const GLchar* vShaderByteArray, const GLchar* fShaderByteArray);
 
     /** Initializes the GLProgram with a vertex and fragment with contents of filenames 
      * @js init
      * @lua init
      */
+    static GLProgram* createWithFilenames(const std::string& vShaderFilename, const std::string& fShaderFilename);
     bool initWithFilenames(const std::string& vShaderFilename, const std::string& fShaderFilename);
 
 	//void bindUniform(std::string uniformName, int value);
diff --git a/cocos/deprecated/CCString.cpp b/cocos/deprecated/CCString.cpp
index 27218ca1d1..475d4f41f8 100644
--- a/cocos/deprecated/CCString.cpp
+++ b/cocos/deprecated/CCString.cpp
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ __String* __String::createWithFormat(const char* format, ...)
     return ret;
 }
 
-__String* __String::createWithContentsOfFile(const char* filename)
+__String* __String::createWithContentsOfFile(const std::string &filename)
 {
     std::string str = FileUtils::getInstance()->getStringFromFile(filename);
     return __String::create(std::move(str));
diff --git a/cocos/deprecated/CCString.h b/cocos/deprecated/CCString.h
index d4917fb9ef..f4cd92b866 100644
--- a/cocos/deprecated/CCString.h
+++ b/cocos/deprecated/CCString.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public:
      *          it means that you needn't do a release operation unless you retain it.
      * @js NA
      */
-    static __String* createWithContentsOfFile(const char* filename);
+    static __String* createWithContentsOfFile(const std::string& filename);
     /**
      * @js NA
      * @lua NA
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.cpp b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.cpp
index 7fa1bd644c..077897401f 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #include "ShaderTest.h"
 #include "../testResource.h"
 #include "cocos2d.h"
-#include "renderer/CCCustomCommand.h"
-#include "renderer/CCRenderer.h"
 
 static int sceneIdx = -1; 
 
@@ -113,9 +111,6 @@ ShaderNode::ShaderNode()
 :_center(Vector2(0.0f, 0.0f))
 ,_resolution(Vector2(0.0f, 0.0f))
 ,_time(0.0f)
-,_uniformCenter(0)
-,_uniformResolution(0)
-,_uniformTime(0)
 {
 }
 
@@ -161,21 +156,14 @@ bool ShaderNode::initWithVertex(const char *vert, const char *frag)
 
 void ShaderNode::loadShaderVertex(const char *vert, const char *frag)
 {
-    auto shader = new GLProgram();
-    shader->initWithFilenames(vert, frag);
+    auto shader = GLProgram::createWithFilenames(vert, frag);
 
     shader->bindAttribLocation("aVertex", GLProgram::VERTEX_ATTRIB_POSITION);
     shader->link();
 
     shader->updateUniforms();
 
-    _uniformCenter = shader->getUniformLocation("center");
-    _uniformResolution = shader->getUniformLocation("resolution");
-    _uniformTime = shader->getUniformLocation("time");
-
     this->setShaderProgram(shader);
-
-    shader->release();
 }
 
 void ShaderNode::update(float dt)
@@ -202,12 +190,10 @@ void ShaderNode::onDraw(const Matrix &transform, bool transformUpdated)
     auto shader = getShaderProgram();
     shader->use();
     shader->setUniformsForBuiltins(transform);
-    shader->setUniformLocationWith2f(_uniformCenter, _center.x, _center.y);
-    shader->setUniformLocationWith2f(_uniformResolution, _resolution.x, _resolution.y);
-    
-    // time changes all the time, so it is Ok to call OpenGL directly, and not the "cached" version
-    glUniform1f(_uniformTime, _time);
-    
+
+    shader->getUniform("center")->setValue(_center);
+    shader->getUniform("resolution")->setValue(_resolution);
+
     GL::enableVertexAttribs( cocos2d::GL::VERTEX_ATTRIB_FLAG_POSITION );
 
     float w = SIZE_X, h = SIZE_Y;
@@ -447,9 +433,6 @@ protected:
     float     _cons;
     float     _weightSum;
 
-    GLuint    pixelSizeLocation;
-    GLuint    coefficientLocation;
-
     CustomCommand _customCommand;
 };
 
@@ -502,11 +485,9 @@ void SpriteBlur::initProgram()
 {
     GLchar * fragSource = (GLchar*) String::createWithContentsOfFile(
                                 FileUtils::getInstance()->fullPathForFilename("Shaders/example_Blur.fsh").c_str())->getCString();  
-    auto program = new GLProgram();
-    program->initWithByteArrays(ccPositionTextureColor_vert, fragSource);
+    auto program = GLProgram::createWithByteArrays(ccPositionTextureColor_vert, fragSource);
     setShaderProgram(program);
-    program->release();
-    
+
     CHECK_GL_ERROR_DEBUG();
     
     program->bindAttribLocation(GLProgram::ATTRIBUTE_NAME_POSITION, GLProgram::VERTEX_ATTRIB_POSITION);
@@ -521,12 +502,7 @@ void SpriteBlur::initProgram()
     
     program->updateUniforms();
     
-    CHECK_GL_ERROR_DEBUG();
-    
-    pixelSizeLocation = program->getUniformLocation("onePixelSize");
-    coefficientLocation = program->getUniformLocation("gaussianCoefficient");
-
-    CHECK_GL_ERROR_DEBUG();
+    CHECK_GL_ERROR_DEBUG();    
 }
 
 void SpriteBlur::draw(Renderer *renderer, const Matrix &transform, bool transformUpdated)
@@ -545,8 +521,9 @@ void SpriteBlur::onDraw(const Matrix &transform, bool transformUpdated)
     auto program = getShaderProgram();
     program->use();
     program->setUniformsForBuiltins(transform);
-    program->setUniformLocationWith2f(pixelSizeLocation, _pixelSize.x, _pixelSize.y);
-    program->setUniformLocationWith4f(coefficientLocation, _samplingRadius, _scale,_cons,_weightSum);
+
+    program->getUniform("onePixelSize")->setValue(_pixelSize);
+    program->getUniform("gaussianCoefficient")->setValue(Vector4(_samplingRadius, _scale, _cons, _weightSum));
     
     GL::bindTexture2D( getTexture()->getName());
     
@@ -687,9 +664,8 @@ bool ShaderRetroEffect::init()
 {
     if( ShaderTestDemo::init() ) {
 
-        GLchar * fragSource = (GLchar*) String::createWithContentsOfFile(FileUtils::getInstance()->fullPathForFilename("Shaders/example_HorizontalColor.fsh").c_str())->getCString();
-        auto p = new GLProgram();
-        p->initWithByteArrays(ccPositionTexture_vert, fragSource);
+        GLchar * fragSource = (GLchar*) String::createWithContentsOfFile(FileUtils::getInstance()->fullPathForFilename("Shaders/example_HorizontalColor.fsh"))->getCString();
+        auto p = GLProgram::createWithByteArrays(ccPositionTexture_vert, fragSource);
 
         p->bindAttribLocation(GLProgram::ATTRIBUTE_NAME_POSITION, GLProgram::VERTEX_ATTRIB_POSITION);
         p->bindAttribLocation(GLProgram::ATTRIBUTE_NAME_TEX_COORD, GLProgram::VERTEX_ATTRIB_TEX_COORDS);
@@ -704,8 +680,6 @@ bool ShaderRetroEffect::init()
         _label->setAnchorPoint(Vector2::ANCHOR_MIDDLE);
         _label->setShaderProgram(p);
 
-        p->release();
-
         _label->setPosition(Vector2(s.width/2,s.height/2));
 
         addChild(_label);
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.h b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.h
index 3ef09eae2a..c1dea61c66 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.h
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest.h
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ protected:
     Vector2 _center;
     Vector2 _resolution;
     float      _time;
-    GLuint     _uniformCenter, _uniformResolution, _uniformTime;
     std::string _vertFileName;
     std::string _fragFileName;
     CustomCommand _customCommand;
diff --git a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest2.cpp b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest2.cpp
index f615116ab8..ce1425acd1 100644
--- a/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest2.cpp
+++ b/tests/cpp-tests/Classes/ShaderTest/ShaderTest2.cpp
@@ -166,11 +166,9 @@ void ShaderSprite::initShader()
         vertSource = fileUtiles->getStringFromFile(vertexFilePath);
     }
 
-    auto program = new GLProgram();
-    program->initWithByteArrays(vertSource.c_str(), fragSource.c_str());
+    auto program = GLProgram::createWithByteArrays(vertSource.c_str(), fragSource.c_str());
     setShaderProgram(program);
-    program->release();
-    
+
     CHECK_GL_ERROR_DEBUG();
 
     program->link();
@@ -742,8 +740,7 @@ UniformSprite::~UniformSprite()
 
 void UniformSprite::initShader()
 {
-    auto shader = new GLProgram();
-    shader->initWithFilenames(_vertSourceFile, _fragSourceFile);
+    auto shader = GLProgram::createWithFilenames(_vertSourceFile, _fragSourceFile);
     shader->link();
     
     shader->updateUniforms();
@@ -752,8 +749,6 @@ void UniformSprite::initShader()
     
 //    std::string attribname ="a_position";
 //    shader->getAttrib(attribname)->size = 2;
-    
-    shader->release();
 }
 
 void UniformSprite::draw(Renderer *renderer, const Matrix &transform, bool transformUpdated)
@@ -845,14 +840,10 @@ AttribSprite::~AttribSprite()
 
 void AttribSprite::initShader()
 {
-    auto shader = new GLProgram();
-
-    shader->initWithFilenames(_vertSourceFile, _fragSourceFile);
+    auto shader = GLProgram::createWithFilenames(_vertSourceFile, _fragSourceFile);
     shader->link();
     shader->updateUniforms();
-    this->setShaderProgram(shader);
-    
-    shader->release();
+    this->setShaderProgram(shader);    
 }
 
 void AttribSprite::draw(Renderer *renderer, const Matrix &transform, bool transformUpdated)