Three.js Development

Build high-performance 3D web applications using Three.js - a cross-browser WebGL/WebGPU library.

When to Use This Skill

Use when working with:

• 3D scenes, models, animations, or visualizations
• WebGL/WebGPU rendering and graphics programming
• Interactive 3D experiences (games, configurators, data viz)
• Camera controls, lighting, materials, or shaders
• Loading 3D assets (GLTF, FBX, OBJ) or textures
• Post-processing effects (bloom, depth of field, SSAO)
• Physics simulations, VR/XR experiences, or spatial audio
• Performance optimization (instancing, LOD, frustum culling)

Progressive Learning Path

Level 1: Getting Started

• Load references/00-fundamentals.md - Fundamentals
• Load references/01-getting-started.md - Scene setup, basic geometries, materials, lights, rendering loop

Level 2: Common Tasks

• Asset Loading: references/02-loaders.md - GLTF, FBX, OBJ, texture loaders
• Textures: references/03-textures.md - Types, mapping, wrapping, filtering
• Cameras: references/04-cameras.md - Perspective, orthographic, controls
• Lights: references/05-lights.md - Types, shadows, helpers
• Animations: references/06-animations.md - Clips, mixer, keyframes
• Math: references/07-math.md - Vectors, matrices, quaternions, curves
• Geometry: references/18-geometry.md - Built-in shapes, BufferGeometry, custom geometry, instancing
• Materials: references/11-materials.md - PBR, basic, phong, lambert, physical, toon, normal, depth, raw, shader materials, material properties

Level 3: Interactive & Effects

• Interaction: references/08-interaction.md - Raycasting, picking, transforms
• Post-Processing: references/09-postprocessing.md - Passes, bloom, SSAO, SSR
• Controls (Addons): references/10-controls.md - Orbit, transform, first-person

Level 4: Advanced Rendering

• Materials Advanced: references/11-materials-advanced.md - PBR, custom shaders
• Performance: references/12-performance.md - Instancing, LOD, batching, culling
• Node Materials (TSL): references/13-node-materials.md - Shader graphs, compute

Level 5: Specialized

• Physics: references/14-physics-vr.md - Ammo, Rapier, Jolt, VR/XR
• Advanced Loaders: references/15-specialized-loaders.md - SVG, VRML, domain-specific
• WebGPU: references/16-webgpu.md - Modern backend, compute shaders
• Shaders: references/17-shader.md - GLSL, ShaderMaterial, uniforms, custom effects

Quick Start Pattern

// 1. Scene, Camera, Renderer
const scene = new THREE.Scene();
const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera(75, window.innerWidth/window.innerHeight, 0.1, 1000);
const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer();
renderer.setSize(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight);
document.body.appendChild(renderer.domElement);

// 2. Add Objects
const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry();
const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: 0x00ff00 });
const cube = new THREE.Mesh(geometry, material);
scene.add(cube);

// 3. Add Lights
const light = new THREE.DirectionalLight(0xffffff, 1);
light.position.set(5, 5, 5);
scene.add(light);
scene.add(new THREE.AmbientLight(0x404040));

// 4. Animation Loop
function animate() {
  requestAnimationFrame(animate);
  cube.rotation.x += 0.01;
  cube.rotation.y += 0.01;
  renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
animate();

External Resources

• Official Docs: https://threejs.org/docs/
• Examples: https://threejs.org/examples/
• Editor: https://threejs.org/editor/
• Discord: https://discord.gg/56GBJwAnUS