This podcast episode explores the basics of writing shaders in GLSL for 3D graphics rendering. It covers topics such as setting up shaders in Three.js using GLSL, defining variables and working with constructors and conversions, using swizzle masks for color modification, understanding basic operators and math functions in GLSL, and communicating data between JavaScript and shaders. The episode also delves into the concepts of Model-View-Projection matrices, Vertex Shaders and Fragment Shaders, interpolation, dot product, and the Fresnel effect. It discusses important GLSL functions such as step, smooth step, length, fract, mix, and showcases the use of Sine Distance Fields for drawing shapes. The episode concludes with a focus on implementing fragment shaders, UV coordinates, and noise textures for creating patterns, animation, and displacement mapping.
