Unity Shader Skills

Work with .shader HLSL/ShaderLab files (create from templates, read source, list, find, get keywords/properties/variants, check errors, delete, toggle global keywords). For node-based ShaderGraph use the shadergraph module.

Operating Mode

• Query skills (shader_read, shader_list, shader_find, shader_get_properties, shader_check_errors, shader_get_keywords, shader_get_variant_count) are SkillMode.SemiAuto — they run in all three modes without grant.
• Mutating skills (shader_create, shader_create_urp, shader_set_global_keyword) are SkillMode.FullAuto — under Approval they need user grant (grant triggers one server-side execute returning the result); under Auto / Bypass they execute directly.
• shader_delete carries SkillOperation.Delete and is auto-forbidden in Approval / Auto modes (NeverInSemi). Only Bypass or the user-managed Allowlist can run it.

Guardrails

DO NOT (common hallucinations):

• shader_set_property does not exist → use material_set_float/material_set_color/etc. on the material, not the shader
• shader_apply / shader_assign do not exist → use material_set_shader to change a material's shader
• shader_get_properties returns shader property definitions (name/type/range), not current values → for material instance values use material_get_properties
• Shader names are case-sensitive and path-like: "Standard", "Universal Render Pipeline/Lit", not "standard" or "URP Lit"

Routing:

• For material property changes → use material module
• For shader keyword control → material_set_keyword (material module)
• For global shader keywords → shader_set_global_keyword (this module)

Skills Overview

Skills

shader_create

Create a shader file. The template parameter is raw shader source code that gets written verbatim into the .shader file — it is not a preset name. If you pass template="Standard" the literal string Standard will be written to disk and the shader will fail to compile.

For a URP Unlit / Lit preset, use shader_create_urp (type: "Unlit" | "Lit") instead — it actually selects a template by name.

shader_read

Read shader source code.

Returns: {path, lines, content}

shader_list

List all shaders in project.

Returns: {count, shaders: [{path, name, propertyCount}]}

shader_find

Find a shader by name.

Returns: {found, name, path}

shader_delete

Delete a shader file.

shader_get_properties

Get all properties defined in a shader.

Returns: {success, properties: [{name, type, description}]}

shader_check_errors

Check shader for compilation errors.

Returns: { shaderName, hasErrors, messageCount }

shader_get_keywords

Get shader keyword list.

Returns: { shaderName, keywordCount, keywords: [{ name, type }] }

shader_get_variant_count

Get shader variant count for performance analysis.

Returns: { shaderName, subshaderCount, totalPasses }

shader_create_urp

Create a URP shader from template (type: Unlit or Lit).

Returns: { success, shaderName, path, type }

shader_set_global_keyword

Enable or disable a global shader keyword.

Returns: { success, keyword, enabled }

Example Usage

import unity_skills

# Create an unlit shader
unity_skills.call_skill("shader_create",
    shaderName="Custom/MyUnlit",
    savePath="Assets/Shaders/MyUnlit.shader",
    template="Unlit"
)

# Create a surface shader
unity_skills.call_skill("shader_create",
    shaderName="Custom/MyPBR",
    savePath="Assets/Shaders/MyPBR.shader",
    template="Standard"
)

# Read shader source
source = unity_skills.call_skill("shader_read",
    shaderPath="Assets/Shaders/MyUnlit.shader"
)
print(source['content'])

# List all custom shaders
shaders = unity_skills.call_skill("shader_list", filter="Custom")
for shader in shaders['shaders']:
    print(f"{shader['name']}: {shader['path']}")

Best Practices

1. Use consistent shader naming (Category/Name)
2. Organize shaders in dedicated folder
3. Start with templates, modify as needed
4. Test shaders in different lighting conditions
5. Consider mobile compatibility for builds

Exact Signatures

Exact names, parameters, defaults, and returns are defined by GET /skills/schema or unity_skills.get_skill_schema(), not by this file.