WebGL Shader Playground

A real-time WebGL shader editor that lets you experiment with vertex and fragment shaders, create stunning visual effects, and learn GLSL programming through interactive examples.

Features

• Live Shader Editing: Write and edit GLSL shaders with instant preview
• Multiple Shader Types: Vertex shaders, fragment shaders, and compute effects
• Interactive Uniforms: Real-time control over shader parameters
• Visual Effects Library: Noise functions, fractals, wave distortions, and more
• Performance Monitoring: FPS counter and GPU performance metrics
• Shader Export: Save and share your creations

Technical Implementation

This playground uses WebGL 2.0 for modern GPU programming capabilities:

// Example fragment shader
precision mediump float;

uniform float uTime;
uniform vec2 uResolution;
uniform vec2 uMouse;

void main() {
    vec2 uv = gl_FragCoord.xy / uResolution.xy;
    vec2 center = vec2(0.5);

    // Create animated ripple effect
    float dist = distance(uv, center);
    float wave = sin(dist * 10.0 - uTime * 2.0) * 0.1;

    // Color based on distance and time
    vec3 color = vec3(
        sin(uTime + dist * 5.0) * 0.5 + 0.5,
        cos(uTime + dist * 3.0) * 0.5 + 0.5,
        sin(uTime * 0.5 + dist * 8.0) * 0.5 + 0.5
    );

    gl_FragColor = vec4(color + wave, 1.0);
}

Interactive Controls

• Real-time Editor: Monaco editor with GLSL syntax highlighting
• Uniform Controls: Sliders, color pickers, and vector inputs
• Mouse Interaction: Pass mouse coordinates to shaders
• Time Animation: Automatic time uniform for animations
• Resolution Control: Test shaders at different resolutions

Shader Examples

The playground includes several preset shaders to get you started:

• Fractal Patterns: Mandelbrot sets, Julia sets, and Sierpinski triangles
• Noise Effects: Perlin noise, simplex noise, and turbulence
• Wave Distortions: Sine waves, ripples, and interference patterns
• Color Transitions: Smooth gradients and color cycling
• Geometric Patterns: Voronoi diagrams and cellular automata

Learning Resources

Perfect for learning:

• GLSL syntax and built-in functions
• GPU programming concepts
• Real-time rendering techniques
• Mathematical functions in graphics
• Performance optimization for shaders

Try experimenting with different mathematical functions, noise patterns, and time-based animations to create your own unique visual effects!