Last week, I did something I hadn’t done in almost two years. I opened up ShaderToy and started coding again. Stepping back felt both familiar and new. It’s like revisiting an old hobby you remember the joy, but also notice all the little things you’d forgotten.
I spent most of my time exploring raymarched shapes, reflections, and even put together a small real time sandbox. Watching shapes and lights evolve on the screen from just code is strangely satisfying. Tweaking a formula, shifting colors, adjusting a reflection, and seeing everything update instantly it’s addictive and calming at the same time.
Looking back at my earlier experiments, I realize how much my focus has changed. Before, I chased visuals the fun, colorful experiments. Now, I’m drawn to the deeper mechanics, the low level logic that makes everything tick. Understanding the why, pushing limits, and thinking about optimization it’s challenging, but exciting. This is the part of programming that makes hours disappear without notice.
Two years ago, I was just playing around. Today, I’m approaching GLSL with more intention. Exploring low level programming alongside graphics has changed my perspective. Even small experiments feel meaningful because I see how they fit into a bigger picture.
Returning to GLSL has reminded me how much I enjoy tinkering freely. There’s no pressure, no need for polished projects just experimenting, failing, learning, iterating. That sandbox I built isn’t perfect, but it’s mine, and it’s exactly the kind of work I want to be doing now.
I guess this is the start of a new chapter, more exploration, more experiments, and hopefully more understanding. I’m curious to see where this curiosity will take me, whether in graphics, lowlevel systems, or somewhere completely unexpected.