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-## ouros
+# ouros
 
-# initial commit
+Ouros is a rudimentary 3D rendering application built with C++ utilizing the Vulkan API for blazing fast rasterization and shading. This is mainly for tinkering around, so don't expect the most performant and clean code. I will be using the amazing Sascha Willems's https://howtovulkan.com/ guide as a platform. 
+## Some design philosphies:
+ - Cross platform (Windown & Linux, Debian in my case)
+ - Minimal external libraries. Some libraries are unavoidable, especially for a project with a large scope. Libraries for window creation, matrix math, and device interfacing are inevitable, but dependency complexity is usually a problem. 
+ - Compartmentalization: units should be separated a part from each other as mushc as possible to reduce codebase complexity. eg, the renderer should be completely separate from a keyboard interface.
+ - Performance tracking: since Vulkan is absurdly configurable, different options need to be able to be profiled to determine the best option
+ - Configurability: being able to change things without a rebuild is in general good practice. I like yaml 
+ - Fun: if its a pain to maintain then you're doing it wrong
+ - shmunguss
+
+## Roadmap
+Below is some steps to organize development plan and future goals, mostly following Sascha's guide. 
+  - [ ] Repo setup
+  - [ ] Hello world application
+  - [ ] Window creation (glfw or sdl)
+  - [ ] Vulkan installation
+  - [ ] Hello Vulkan: instance creation
+  - [ ] Device/GPU Setup
+  - [ ] Graphic pipeline -> swapchain
+  - [ ] Shaders
+  - [ ] Hello triangle
+  - [ ] 3D
+  - [ ] Texture loader
+  - [ ] Model Loader
+  - [ ] Mouse/Keyboard inputs
+
+Below is beyond Sascha's guide, but available elsewhere on his github. These are more long term ideas.
+  - [ ] Lighting
+  - [ ] Shadows (via Shadow Mapping)
+  - [ ] Compute Shading
+  - [ ] Raytracing
+  - [ ] Graphical User Interfacing
+  - [ ] Post-Processing Effects
+  - [ ] Procedural Generation
+  - [ ] Particles
+
+## Build instructions
+TODO: git clone, build/install libraries script, cmake commands, etc.
+TODO: identify dependencies and how to install them (vulkan libraries, sdl, glm, etc.)
+
+## Additional Resources
+ - https://howtovulkan.com/
+ - Will add more as I use them