/godot-shaders-basics

Migration notes: godot-shaders-basics

Incremental upgrade for topics this skill covers. Apply one hop, stabilize/test, then next. Never skip hops.

If the project is < 4.0, follow godot-version-migration era bridges (legacy → 3→4) until 4.0, then these hops. Official 3→4: Upgrading from Godot 3 to Godot 4.

3.x → 4.0

Official: Upgrading from Godot 3 to Godot 4

• Rename .shader → .gdshader; update references.
• hint_albedo/hint_color → source_color; filter/repeat on uniforms.
• Particles shaders: start()/process() instead of vertex().
• Custom light() and matrix builtins changed — visual QA required.

4.0 → 4.1

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.1

• RenderingServer.global_shader_parameter_get_list / RD shader version lists return Array[StringName].
• RenderingDevice.draw_list_begin storage_textures typed as Array[RID].

4.1 → 4.2

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.2

• Mesh format upgrade — re-test shader variants on upgraded mesh surfaces.
• RenderingDevice BarrierMask enum values changed.

4.2 → 4.3

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.3

• Reverse Z depth — custom spatial shaders comparing depth or using POSITION.z may break; migrate depth sampling.
• Decal modulate converted sRGB→linear — shader/decal color inputs shift.
• RenderingDevice barrier/draw_list API simplified (post_barrier params removed).

4.3 → 4.4

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.4

• RenderingDevice.draw_list_begin signature overhauled (params removed + breadcrumb).
• Shader default texture parameter types use Texture / TextureLayered.
• VisualShader cubemap / Texture2DArray nodes use TextureLayered.
• VisualShaderNodeVec4Constant input type → Vector4 — recreate constant nodes.

4.4 → 4.5

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.5

• RenderingServer.instance_reset_physics_interpolation / instance_set_interpolated removed.

4.5 → 4.6

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.6

• Glow default blend Screen (brighter) — shader output may look hotter against default bloom.
• Sky reflection roughness_layers default 7 (was 8).

4.6 → 4.7

Official: Upgrading to Godot 4.7

• LinearToSRGB visual shader no longer clamps [0,1] on Mobile/Forward+.
• Texture2D.get_format() unified on base class — branch format-specific shader paths on the base API.
• Image.save_exr* gain color_image / max_linear_value optionals.