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ShaderLab VS Shader Editor

Compare ShaderLab VS Shader Editor and see what are their differences

ShaderLab logo ShaderLab

WebGL2 GLSL Editor for the browser.

Shader Editor logo Shader Editor

Android app to create GLSL shaders and use them as live wallpaper
  • ShaderLab Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-27

We recommend LibHunt ShaderLab for discovery and comparisons of trending ShaderLab projects.

  • Shader Editor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27

ShaderLab features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    ShaderLab provides a simplistic and intuitive interface that makes it easier for users to create shaders without extensive programming knowledge.
  • Native Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with Unity, enabling users to take advantage of Unity's versatile graphics engine and asset pipeline.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform offers substantial documentation and tutorials, which greatly assist beginners in understanding and using ShaderLab effectively.
  • Real-time Editing
    ShaderLab allows for real-time shader editing and previewing, facilitating immediate visual feedback and iterative refinement.
  • Community Support
    There is a robust community of ShaderLab users who contribute to forums and shared resources, providing valuable support and knowledge exchange.

Possible disadvantages of ShaderLab

  • Limited Flexibility
    Compared to writing shaders directly in GLSL or HLSL, ShaderLab abstracts many details away, which might limit expert users seeking to implement advanced or non-standard techniques.
  • Performance Overheads
    The abstraction layer can sometimes introduce performance overheads, which may not be suitable for extremely performance-sensitive applications.
  • Learning Curve for Complex Shaders
    While ShaderLab simplifies basic shader creation, handling complex shaders might still require a deep understanding of graphics programming concepts.
  • Dependency on Unity
    ShaderLab is designed specifically for Unity, which makes it less useful for projects that aren't using this engine.
  • Version Compatibility
    Updates in Unity may sometimes result in compatibility issues with ShaderLab scripts, requiring modifications to existing shaders.

Shader Editor features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shader Editor is open source, allowing users to freely access, modify, and contribute to the codebase to enhance functionalities or fix issues as per their requirements.
  • Portability
    As a mobile app, it allows users to create and test GLSL shaders on the go, providing a convenient platform for developers and artists.
  • Interactive Editing
    Shader Editor offers interactive editing of shaders, providing immediate visual feedback which helps in quicker development and debugging.
  • Community Support
    Being hosted on GitHub means there is potential for strong community support, with users sharing ideas, solutions, and improvements through issues and pull requests.
  • Learning Resource
    This tool can serve as a valuable educational resource for individuals interested in learning about shader programming and graphic rendering techniques.

Possible disadvantages of Shader Editor

  • Platform Limitations
    Since it is primarily an Android app, it may not support development or testing on platforms like iOS or desktop environments, limiting its usability to Android devices.
  • Performance Constraints
    Running complex shaders may be demanding on mobile device hardware, impacting performance and reducing the ability to test high-end graphics adequately.
  • Feature Set
    The feature set may be more limited compared to desktop-based shader editors, which often have more advanced tools and integrations available.
  • Device Compatibility
    Some shaders might not run uniformly across different Android devices due to variations in hardware and OpenGL support, leading to inconsistencies in shader behavior.
  • User Interface Challenges
    The user interface might not be as intuitive or spacious as desktop-based alternatives, potentially leading to a less efficient editing experience on smaller screens.

ShaderLab videos

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Shader Editor videos

Advanced Materials in Blender 2.80 | Shader Editor Tutorial

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Amplify Shader Editor Tutorial 1 - User Interaction
  • Review - SHADERed -- Excellent Free and Open Source Shader Editor

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ShaderLab and Shader Editor)
3D
43 43%
57% 57
Interactive Exhibits
43 43%
57% 57
VJ
43 43%
57% 57
Prototyping Tools
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ShaderLab and Shader Editor, you can also consider the following products

Shadertoy - Build shaders, share them, and learn from the best community.

GLSL Sandbox - An online GSGL Shader Gallery and live development tool.

SHADERed - Lightweight, full-featured desktop tool for creating and testing HLSL and GLSL shaders

The Book of Shaders - Extensive guide through fragment shaders with live coding examples

Shdr - Shdr is an online ESSL (GLSL) shader editor, viewer and validator powered by WebGL.

KodeLife - Real-time GPU shader editor, live-code performance tool and graphics prototyping sketchpad.