Workbench
=========

|docs_identity|

Workbench is a native technical-art application for editing Slang, inspecting what
the compiler understood, and seeing the result through Qt's QRhi rendering layer.
The documentation starts with visible tasks, then develops the mental model, then
opens the implementation and extension boundaries.

.. image:: images/workbench_overview.png
   :alt: Whole Workbench application showing viewport, workspace, Inspector, and timeline
   :align: center

Choose a path
-------------

**Learn**
   Start Workbench without installing a development environment, edit a first
   shader, and learn the visible vocabulary. Begin with :doc:`learn/index`.

**Use**
   Follow short tasks for the workspace, Inspector, timeline, tools, and generated
   code. Go to :doc:`using/index`.

**Understand**
   Build mental models for documents and bindings, entry points, reflection,
   dependency identity, time, and tool sessions. Go to :doc:`concepts/index`.

**Extend**
   Author against the packaged Slang modules or add a tool through the native and
   Python exposure boundaries. Start at :doc:`workbench_slang/index` or
   :doc:`extending/index`.

Progressive depth
-----------------

::

   use the product -> learn the concepts -> study architecture -> extend -> reference

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Learn

   learn/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Using Workbench

   using/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Concepts

   concepts/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Workbench Slang

   workbench_slang/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Architecture

   architecture/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Extending Workbench

   extending/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Reference

   reference/index

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Research

   research/index