CppCon 2018: Valentin Galea “Rapid Prototyping of Graphics Shaders in Modern C++”

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Presentation Slides, PDFs, Source Code and other presenter materials are available at: https://github.com/CppCon/CppCon2018
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Traditionally it's been hard or downright impossible to have C++ on a GPU: Graphics Shaders are mainly done in GLSL/HLSL (C-like languages) and Compute Shaders only recently run it via CUDA/LLVM complex toolchains. This is not always desirable or available - mobile phones for ex. Turns out code can compile both as valid C++ and shader language with a bit of library writing effort. All you mostly need is equivalent 2D/3D/4D vector and matrix types.

What's the catch then? Swizzling! The shader vector allows addressing of its components both as [0], [1], [2] etc but also as .x, .y, .xyz, .zyx, .xxx and all possible combinations. The talk details how this can be achieved in modern C++, clean and in a generic way, without preprocessor tricks, and overcome language obstacles like template argument deduction with implicit conversions. After all the effort it's possible to prototype complex procedural effects at an interactive rate with full CPU-side debugging. Of course, a dedicated GPU will very quickly outpace this but loses the debugging, and some devices might not always produce correct results due to driver bugs.

As takeaway and showcase of what can be achieved with the C++ techniques presented I'll introduce Signed Distance Field functions modeling and some shaders that use it: Procedural Generated Planet, Volumetric Clouds simulation and some fun experiments: a Vinyl Turntable and an Egg On Bicycle!
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Valentin Galea, Splash Damage
Lead Core Tech Programmer

Valentin Galea is a professional video game developer based in London, UK. He currently works at Splash Damage for projects such as the award-winning "Gears of War" franchise on Windows 10 and Xbox One. C++ enthusiast and evangelist, focused on systems, graphics and engine programming. He has 10+ years worth of experience, with past work ranging from MMO projects to mobile and handheld games. When he's not geeking out on games, he collects vinyl records.
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Videos Filmed & Edited by Bash Films: http://www.BashFilms.com

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