# Example: ShaderToy Server
A demo MCP App that renders [ShaderToy](https://www.shadertoy.com/)-compatible GLSL fragment shaders in real-time using WebGL 2.0 and [ShaderToyLite.js](https://github.com/nickoala/ShaderToyLite).
## MCP Client Configuration
Add to your MCP client configuration (stdio transport):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"shadertoy": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"--silent",
"--registry=https://registry.npmjs.org/",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-shadertoy",
"--stdio"
]
}
}
}
```
## Features
- **Real-time Rendering**: Renders GLSL shaders using WebGL 2.0
- **ShaderToy Compatibility**: Uses the standard `mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord)` entry point
- **Multi-pass Rendering**: Supports buffers A-D for feedback effects, blur chains, and simulations
- **Standard Uniforms**: iResolution, iTime, iTimeDelta, iFrame, iMouse, iDate, iChannel0-3
## Running
1. Install dependencies:
```bash
npm install
```
2. Build and start the server:
```bash
npm run start:http # for Streamable HTTP transport
# OR
npm run start:stdio # for stdio transport
```
3. View using the [`basic-host`](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/ext-apps/tree/main/examples/basic-host) example or another MCP Apps-compatible host.
### Tool Input Examples
**Gradient with Time:**
```glsl
void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = fragCoord / iResolution.xy;
fragColor = vec4(uv, 0.5 + 0.5*sin(iTime), 1.0);
}
```
_Tool input:_
```json
{
"fragmentShader": "void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = fragCoord / iResolution.xy;
fragColor = vec4(uv, 0.5 + 0.5*sin(iTime), 1.0);
}"
}
```
**Kaleidoscope**:
```glsl
void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = (fragCoord - 0.5 * iResolution.xy) / iResolution.y;
float segments = 6.0;
float zoom = 1.0 + 0.3 * sin(iTime * 0.2);
float angle = atan(uv.y, uv.x) + iTime * 0.3;
float r = length(uv) * zoom;
angle = mod(angle, 6.28 / segments);
angle = abs(angle - 3.14 / segments);
vec2 p = vec2(cos(angle), sin(angle)) * r;
p += iTime * 0.1;
float v = sin(p.x * 10.0) * sin(p.y * 10.0);
v += sin(length(p) * 15.0 - iTime * 2.0);
v += sin(p.x * 5.0 + p.y * 7.0 + iTime);
vec3 col = 0.5 + 0.5 * cos(v * 2.0 + vec3(0.0, 2.0, 4.0) + iTime);
fragColor = vec4(col, 1.0);
}
```
_Tool input:_
```json
{
"fragmentShader": "void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = (fragCoord - 0.5 * iResolution.xy) / iResolution.y;
float segments = 6.0;
float zoom = 1.0 + 0.3 * sin(iTime * 0.2);
float angle = atan(uv.y, uv.x) + iTime * 0.3;
float r = length(uv) * zoom;
angle = mod(angle, 6.28 / segments);
angle = abs(angle - 3.14 / segments);
vec2 p = vec2(cos(angle), sin(angle)) * r;
p += iTime * 0.1;
float v = sin(p.x * 10.0) * sin(p.y * 10.0);
v += sin(length(p) * 15.0 - iTime * 2.0);
v += sin(p.x * 5.0 + p.y * 7.0 + iTime);
vec3 col = 0.5 + 0.5 * cos(v * 2.0 + vec3(0.0, 2.0, 4.0) + iTime);
fragColor = vec4(col, 1.0);
}"
}
```
**Interactive Julia Set** (mouse controls the fractal's c parameter):
```glsl
void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = (fragCoord - 0.5 * iResolution.xy) / iResolution.y * 2.5;
vec2 mouse = (iMouse.xy / iResolution.xy - 0.5) * 2.0;
vec2 c = mouse;
vec2 z = uv;
float iter = 0.0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
z = vec2(z.x * z.x - z.y * z.y, 2.0 * z.x * z.y) + c;
if (dot(z, z) > 4.0) break;
iter++;
}
float t = iter / 100.0;
vec3 col = 0.5 + 0.5 * cos(3.0 + t * 6.28 * 2.0 + vec3(0.0, 0.6, 1.0));
if (iter == 100.0) col = vec3(0.0);
fragColor = vec4(col, 1.0);
}
```
_Tool input:_
```json
{
"fragmentShader": "void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
vec2 uv = (fragCoord - 0.5 * iResolution.xy) / iResolution.y * 2.5;
vec2 mouse = (iMouse.xy / iResolution.xy - 0.5) * 2.0;
vec2 c = mouse;
vec2 z = uv;
float iter = 0.0;
for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
z = vec2(z.x * z.x - z.y * z.y, 2.0 * z.x * z.y) + c;
if (dot(z, z) > 4.0) break;
iter++;
}
float t = iter / 100.0;
vec3 col = 0.5 + 0.5 * cos(3.0 + t * 6.28 * 2.0 + vec3(0.0, 0.6, 1.0));
if (iter == 100.0) col = vec3(0.0);
fragColor = vec4(col, 1.0);
}"
}
```
## Architecture
### Server (`server.ts`)
Exposes a single `render-shadertoy` tool that accepts:
- `fragmentShader`: Main Image shader code (required)
- `common`: Shared code across all shaders (optional)
- `bufferA`: Buffer A shader, accessible as iChannel0 (optional)
- `bufferB`: Buffer B shader, accessible as iChannel1 (optional)
- `bufferC`: Buffer C shader, accessible as iChannel2 (optional)
- `bufferD`: Buffer D shader, accessible as iChannel3 (optional)
### App (`src/mcp-app.ts`)
- Receives shader code via `ontoolinput` handler
- Uses ShaderToyLite.js for WebGL rendering
- Displays compilation errors in an overlay