#Lighting

The engine supports up to 8 dynamic lights using Blinn-Phong shading. Lights are ECS entities with a Light component and a Transform for position.

#Light Types

#Directional Light

A light that shines in a single direction from infinitely far away (like the sun). Position is ignored; only direction matters.

int sun = world.Spawn(
    new Transform(),
    new Light {
        Type = LightType.Directional,
        Direction = new Vec3(0.2f, -1f, 0.3f),
        LightColor = new Color(1f, 0.95f, 0.8f),
        Intensity = 1.0f
    }
);

#Point Light

A light that emits in all directions from a position. Attenuates with distance based on Radius.

int torch = world.Spawn(
    new Transform { Position = new Vec3(2f, 3f, -1f) },
    new Light {
        Type = LightType.Point,
        LightColor = new Color(1f, 0.6f, 0.2f),
        Intensity = 2.0f,
        Radius = 15f
    }
);

#Spot Light

A cone-shaped light from a position in a direction. Uses inner and outer cone angles for smooth falloff.

int spotlight = world.Spawn(
    new Transform { Position = new Vec3(0f, 5f, 0f) },
    new Light {
        Type = LightType.Spot,
        Direction = new Vec3(0f, -1f, 0f),
        LightColor = Color.White,
        Intensity = 3.0f,
        Radius = 20f,
        InnerConeDeg = 12.5f,
        OuterConeDeg = 17.5f
    }
);

#Ambient Light

Control the base ambient lighting level:

NativeBridge.SetAmbient(0.1f);  // dim ambient

#LightSyncSystem

The LightSyncSystem runs each frame and pushes all Light + Transform entities to the renderer. It:

1. Queries all entities with both components
2. Assigns each light a slot (0-7)
3. Clears unused slots

Lights beyond slot 7 are ignored. The system automatically manages slot assignment — you don't need to set _LightIndex manually.

#Light Properties Reference