SMRTR ProgrammingJul 2, 2026Hacker News

What to Learn to Be a Graphics Programmer

SMRTR summary

Breaking into graphics programming requires mastering two distinct skill sets: the CPU side (explicit APIs like DirectX12 or Vulkan) and the GPU side (lighting math, shading, and rendering techniques like PBR and path tracing). Building a portfolio with a small engine-like renderer and a path tracer in C++ is the clearest path to being hireable, with linear algebra and basic trigonometry covering most of the math you'll need.

SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Hacker News.

Read the original article
SMRTR Programming

Get the next batch of curated stories in your inbox.

This archive is built from SMRTR newsletter stories. Subscribe for hand-picked stories without the extra noise.

Related Stories

Browse Programming
ProgrammingAug 24, 2026

Programming Paradigms

A structured roadmap for experienced developers to move beyond language familiarity and genuinely master the four core programming paradigms.