Shader modding

[Immi]

Hello Dev team / Caswal,

I've been examining the installed files of Automation, and I stumbled across the shader folder.
I have build up some graphical programming experience over the last few year and recently started modding GLSL shaders in games for better looks in-game.

Now I've noticed that Automation - because of DirectX - uses compiled HLSL shader files.
My DirectX skills aren't as good as OpenGL's, but I know that it's possible to load in uncompiled shaders and compile them on-the-fly.
If Automation would have this feature, then it has made the first step in allowing user to mod the game in some way.

What's your view on this?

[Daffyflyer]

I'd wait until we move to a new engine (currently evaluating both Unity 5 and Unreal 4) as a lot of shader-y stuff will be a lot different by then.

You're totally welcome to mess with it in the meantime though, but I'd advise backing up any files you're going to mess with, just for ease of restoring if you break it

Technical answers will have to wait until Caz is around

[Immi]

Wish I could, but the shaders that are shipped with the game are already compiled into binary machine language.
If you feel like it, you could discuss whether or not to release the source shader files, so I can start messing with those and plug those in again.

Kind regards,
Jasper

[Daffyflyer]

Ahh.. right.

I'll have a chat to Caz about it, but be aware that any modding you do would become useless once we change engine.

[Immi]

I saw the facebook post, that's some wicked shader work.