Exo Shaders is the shader precompiler in Exo Launcher's System > Shaders.
It ships with Exo and runs as its add-on; download Exo Launcher to use it.
[!NOTE]
Exo Shaders is an unofficial fork of SCSKiller, based on
SCSKiller and not affiliated with or endorsed by it. SCSKiller's own app and downloads are on its
repository.
What it does
- Finds your games in every launcher Exo Launcher reads, and shows which are compiled, which need it, and why.
- Compiles ahead of time, in its own process with the game closed: it reads the shaders a game ships with, works
out the pipelines the game will build and compiles them into the driver's cache.
- Keeps a queue, and compiles again by itself when a driver update clears the cache, while your PC is idle.
- Stays out of your way: a compile pauses while you play, gives its memory back when paused, and holds its memory
use down so the rest of your PC stays quick.
- Records when it has to: for a game whose files don't give its pipelines, an optional recorder learns them while
you play a few minutes, then they compile.
- Leaves anti-cheat games alone beyond reading their files: no launching, no injecting and no recorder, unless you
allow it for that game at your own risk.
Exo Shaders fixes shader compilation stutter only, not traversal or streaming stutter, and a shader it couldn't find or
record can still compile in game.
Requirements
| |
|---|
| App | Exo Launcher on Windows 11 x64 |
| GPU | NVIDIA or AMD |
| Games | DirectX 12, and DirectX 11 (on AMD after a recording) |
How it fits
Exo Shaders is a headless service and a page that Exo shows in its System room; Exo talks to it only through messages
(engine/CONTRACT.md). Its changes from SCSKiller are in
engine/CHANGELOG.md; SCSKiller's own are in CHANGELOG.md.
Build
The .NET SDK in global.json and Node.js:
pwsh engine\build\publish-service.ps1
cd ui
npm ci
npm run build
The service lands in engine\out\service and the page in ui\dist; Exo Launcher's release build takes both from
there. The native helpers are built from proxy and kept in engine/prebuilt. Design: ARCHITECTURE.md.
License
GPL-3.0-or-later (LICENSE), with an additional permission for Oodle, the Windows App SDK and graphics driver
libraries (LICENSE-EXCEPTION.txt). Copyright the SCSKiller authors and Exo Shaders'
contributors. Third-party components: THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.md.
Not affiliated with SCSKiller, any GPU maker, engine maker or game publisher. All product names are trademarks of their
owners.
