Godot 4: Grid shader tutorial (all details explained)

[@mouseroot8053]

I enjoyed this, it may seem like a kinda redundant concept to render a grid when a texture could do, but we have to remember this is generated on the GPU, and we have far more control over it then a texture, not to mention learning to code shaders are a critical step in understanding how the GPU works, plus you add animation and rotation something that a texture wouldn't handle as smoothly...and finally because its on the GPU we can do it efficiently and leave more room for the CPU to handle the games' logic. 10/10 all the way.

[@FencerDevLog]

Thank you! Yes, many effects are based on the same principle, they just combine multiple similar calculations together. This video is intended more for beginners who would like to understand the basic techniques typically used in shaders.

[@spectre.garden]

Thank you for taking the time to teach and demonstrate the basic algebra and trig parts on a graph. In this way we can guess or think more purposefully toward the effect we want beyond the bounds of the tutorial here.

[@FencerDevLog]

I like explaining these things. 😎

[@purplepixeleater]

I am really loving this information its few and far between to find a tutorial that covers this simple of a topic without introducing unnecessary information while also being so critical for a game developer to understand and master. I have really searched for years on just this simple topic lol Thank you so much!

[@FencerDevLog]

You are welcome! I believe it's good to cover simple topics in details.

[@TheMrSnipey]

Thanks for the video. Would have been good to have a background color and a grid color. Just subbed.

[@FencerDevLog]

Thanks! I'll try to improve it later.

[@MichaelGame_Dev]

Really cool video! One thing for me is I could follow this and get the grid, but I wouldn't feel like I truly undershoot things. I'm guessing reading the book of shaders is the quickest way to start getting some of the basics? Just a bit left to go in this video, but I want to see if you have any videos on making things have a glow a la Geometry Wars. I know the Glow function can be a good starting point, but it seems to effect everything in game. Unsure if I can/should do that via a shader. Any thoughts/tips or a video you'd recommend?

[@FencerDevLog]

The Book Of Shaders is a great resource. I think that everyone can learn a lot from it, no matter what they want to achieve anything using shaders. As for the glow, it shouldn't be too difficult. I'll try to record a video on this topic.

[@MichaelGame_Dev]

​@DevLog Excellent, I guess the book of shaders is the plan for my weekend haha. I will be watching for your video about the glow as well! Thanks so much!

[@aresnir2725]

This is very nice and interesting, but wouldn't it be simpler and efficient to use simple texture?

[@FencerDevLog]

This is just a basic effect demonstrating the use of certain techniques for drawing lines and regular shapes. In this form, it could certainly be replaced by a texture. 😎 However, it can be enhanced with many other features (more intricately intertwined grids, smooth transition from square grid to hexagonal, etc.), where a static texture would no longer suffice.

[@tradermann]

what if you want to simulate a grid representing space-time that contains some mass on it? i doubt a simple texture would allow you to simulate the bending of space-time in the same way as this script would allow you to

[@aresnir2725]

@@tradermann I think it will allow it