Shape-Z: Shape Prozessing Language

Shape-Z is a recursive, voxel-based programming language inspired by GLSL and shader-like workflows. It is designed for the procedural generation of 3D worlds using simple, expressive code. Unlike traditional modeling tools, Shape-Z treats models as programmable entities—built from logical operations, shapes, and materials—executed on a virtual voxel grid.

⚠️ Shape-Z is in the early phase of development and its syntax and features may change.

Core Features

At its core, Shape-Z offers a minimal yet expressive syntax to define:

• Shapes like Rect and Disc that define both the foundational volume within the voxel grid and the coordinate system (e.g., cartesian for Rect, polar for Disc), enabling context-aware modeling and pattern placement.
• Recursive segments (e.g., Floor, Left) that subdivide space and define the UV/extrusion domain for patterns and hierarchical modeling.
• Patterns such as Bricks and Modulo that automatically adapt to the current subspace and UV layout.
• Distance fields to 3D shapes like Sphere and Box, enabling precise volumetric modeling within segment-local coordinates.
• Fully programmable Disney BSDF materials that interact with noise, patterns, and lighting.
• Procedural logic, including conditionals, mathematical operations, and noise functions, written in a GLSL-like style.
• Configurable model density, allowing output from pixel-art fidelity to dense, smooth geometry.
• Support for direct rendering or export to .OBJ for integration into 3D pipelines.

You write code that precisely defines how space is filled, using recursive structure, branching logic, and procedural evaluation. This gives you full control to build efficient, high-resolution geometry with minimal, expressive input.

Performance & Flexibility

The lighthouse model shown above consists of ~11 million voxels and is fully generated in under a second (at a density of 50 per tile).

Shape-Z supports configurable voxel density, allowing you to repurpose the same model for pixel art or high-resolution mesh export.

Use Shape-Z to

• Build 3D models and worlds in a resolution-independent way, and render them in full Disney BSDF glory.
• Export models to .obj format for integration in 3D engines and pipelines.
• Rapidly iterate and generate complex geometry with minimal code.

Shape-Z is ideal for game developers, artists, and procedural generation enthusiasts seeking a fast and expressive tool for creative modeling.

Examples

For examples and documentation please visit the Website.

License

Shape-Z is dual-licensed under the same terms as Rust:

• MIT License
• Apache License (Version 2.0)

You may choose either license to use Shape-Z according to your needs.