Ray Tracer in SQL
SMRTR summary
A fully functional path tracer built entirely in ClickHouse SQL renders photorealistic 3D scenes — including glassy chrome lettering, procedural terrain, and cast shadows — as PNG output from a single SELECT query. It uses no UDFs or external code, leveraging tuples for 3D math, arrayFold for bounce loops, and CSG primitives like cylinders, tori, and spheres. A wild proof of what SQL can do when pushed to its absolute limits.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Hacker News.
Read the original article