Shader Art Coding

Treat shader work as visual engineering: start from the intended image, choose the smallest mathematical model that can produce it, build it in inspectable stages, and verify each stage with a debug view.

Workflow

1. Target. State the image: subject, camera and framing, dominant forms, materials, light, motion.
2. Route. Pick the rendering model and starting template from references/subject-routing.md: 2D distance fields (posters, icons, patterns), SDF raymarching (objects, characters), heightfield marching (landscapes), volume integration (clouds, smoke, fire).
3. Assemble from the library. Find building blocks with python3 scripts/glsl_tools.py search <words> or references/library-index.md, and call them by name. Do not paste or re-derive library code; it is tested.
4. First image fast. Coordinates, background, one primitive, one light. Then add the debug views.
5. Refine in order: proportions, composition, material separation, lighting, atmosphere, color, antialiasing, performance.
6. Bundle and check. python3 scripts/glsl_tools.py bundle shader.glsl -o out.glsl inlines exactly the functions used. python3 scripts/glsl_tools.py check out.glsl lints it and compiles it with glslangValidator when installed. Fix every error, then deliver out.glsl.