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Computers & Technology

Shaders Unchained: Writing Powerful Shaders for Every Platform

By Kenwright

Master the art and science of writing high-performance, portable shaders for graphics and compute across all major modern APIs.

WHAT THE PUBLISHER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Understand the fundamental mathematics and algorithms that power modern shaders.
  • Learn the syntax and quirks of major shading languages: HLSL, GLSL, MSL, and WGSL.
  • Develop strategies for writing portable and performant shader code across different APIs.

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INSIDE THE BOOK

About this book

This book is a comprehensive guide to shader programming in the modern era. It starts with the core mathematical and algorithmic concepts behind shaders and then dives into practical implementation across different shading languages and platforms (HLSL, GLSL, MSL, WGSL). You'll learn how to write shaders that are not only powerful and visually stunning but also efficient and portable, enabling you to target OpenGL, Vulkan, DirectX, Metal, and WebGPU from a solid foundation of knowledge.

From the publisher’s description

  • Understand the fundamental mathematics and algorithms that power modern shaders.
  • Learn the syntax and quirks of major shading languages: HLSL, GLSL, MSL, and WGSL.
  • Develop strategies for writing portable and performant shader code across different APIs.
  • Create advanced visual effects and leverage GPU compute for non-graphics tasks.

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ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Perspectives on the books

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Reader review4

Good, but not for absolute beginners

A useful guide. The examples assume a particular environment, but that is fixable.

This is the third book I have read on computer graphics this year, and it is comfortably the best of them. It is denser than the page count suggests, and I found myself slowing down around the middle. The writing is direct and does not waste space on filler, which I value in a technical book. The code samples assume a particular environment, which took a bit of fiddling to get running properly. Worth picking up if you already have the basics. Set realistic expectations and you will get a lot out of it.

Isabella NelsonBioinformatics researcher · São Paulo, BR
Shaders Unchained: Writing Powerful Shaders for Every Platform
Reader review5

Outstanding introduction

Excellent from start to finish. No filler, no padding.

I had been on the fence about this one for a while, and I should have bought it sooner. The writing is direct and does not waste space on filler, which I value in a technical book. A couple of chapters felt like they could have been merged, but that is a minor complaint. It is denser than the page count suggests, and I found myself slowing down around the middle. An easy five stars from me. I look forward to whatever the author writes next.

Emma ThomasEmbedded systems engineer · Copenhagen, DK
Shaders Unchained: Writing Powerful Shaders for Every Platform
Reader review4

Solid and well-organised

A worthwhile addition to my shelf, with realistic expectations.

I bought this on a whim after seeing it mentioned in a forum thread, and I am glad I did. Some terminology is introduced without much ceremony; I had to look a few things up along the way. A few of the examples could be more realistic, but the underlying points come across clearly. A few of the examples could be more realistic, but the underlying points come across clearly. A good addition to a technical library, as long as you know what you are buying.

Anna RodriguezGraphics programmer · Milan, IT
Shaders Unchained: Writing Powerful Shaders for Every Platform

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