Overview
What this challenge is about.
Build a CPU-only rasterizer in C++ with depth buffering and diffuse lighting. Render a test scene to PNG and earn a verifiable certificate.
The scenario
Pixel Lantern is a Berlin EdTech studio of about 35 people that builds self-paced programming courses; its graphics-programming track serves 14,000 students who learn best by reading complete, runnable code rather than slideware.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Build a central-processor-only software rasterizer with perspective-correct interpolation, depth buffering, and diffuse lighting, paired with an annotated walkthrough students use to rebuild it.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Implement the model, view, and projection transform chain and the viewport mapping from first principles
- Rasterize triangles using edge functions with perspective-correct attribute interpolation
- Use a depth buffer to correctly resolve visibility between overlapping surfaces
- Apply per-vertex diffuse (Lambertian) shading from a directional light
- Explain a rendering pipeline clearly enough that a beginner can rebuild it
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Aligned coursework coming soon.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
- Rasterization
Apply rasterization to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Geometric Transformations
Apply geometric transformations to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- 3d Rendering
Apply 3d rendering to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Shading And Lighting
Apply shading and lighting to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Cpp
Apply cpp to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Math For Graphics
Apply math for graphics to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
Careers
Career paths this challenge builds toward
Completing this challenge demonstrates skills that transfer directly to these roles:
Graphics Engineer
Implementing a rasterizer end to end on the central processor gives you the transform, interpolation, and visibility fundamentals that real-time and offline rendering teams expect before you ever touch a graphics card.
This challenge sharpens
- rasterization
- 3d-rendering
- math-for-graphics
Game Engine Developer
Building the model-view-projection chain, depth buffering, and shading from scratch mirrors the core systems inside a game engine, preparing you to extend renderers and reason about pipeline performance and correctness.
This challenge sharpens
- geometric-transformations
- shading-and-lighting
- cpp
Technical Course Author (EdTech)
Producing code plus a walkthrough that a beginner can rebuild from is exactly the work of an EdTech curriculum engineer, bridging deep rendering knowledge with the ability to teach it clearly at scale.
This challenge sharpens
- 3d-rendering
- rasterization
- math-for-graphics