Abstract: A system and methods for providing shading effects include a shading network possessing the ability to create, maintain, and incrementally evolve shading techniques and effects. The shader network provides the ability to encapsulate CPU and GPU code into a self-contained node that can be transported between renderers. As a result, authors can develop reusable shading techniques that can express the wide range of effects available via utilization of CPU and GPU code. The shader network also provides the capability to compose multiple nodes into a reusable “macro” node that affords authors the ability to build derivative shading effects without the need to modify an application's renderer or constituent nodes.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for enabling the development and execution of applications that employ a composited application model. A composited application includes components that are to be executed in different runtimes. Accordingly, an application developer can leverage different runtimes within a single application. A managing runtime is used to manage the various runtimes used by a composited application. The managing runtime performs input redirection to route user input to the appropriate runtime and output compositing to composite each runtime's user interface components into a single seamless scene.