Abstract: |
We introduce a new software tool called ShaderBase that facilitates using, sharing, and curating GLSL shaders in computational design, interactive arts, and data visualization. This tool is part of the Processing programming environment, an open-source project widely used for teaching and production in the context of media arts and design. Shaders are a crucial component in the development of large-scale data visualizations, interactive installations, real-time rendering tools, videogames, virtual reality applications, etc. However, their use requires advanced shader programming skills, and the creation of new shader-based effects demands a deep understanding of the graphics pipeline in modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). ShaderBase uniquely addresses these issues by allowing Processing users to easily upload and share shaders via an underlying Git repository. ShaderBase operates in close integration with Processing’s interface, so that users can incorporate shaders into their programs with minimal effort. Furthermore, the shaders indexed in ShaderBase take advantage of Processing’s drawing API, and incentives the use of shaders among artists and designers who might not be able to do so otherwise |