Talks - Łukasz Langa: Build in-browser 3D experiences with WebGL and PyScript

PyScript enables writing Python code that runs directly in web browsers, using WebGL and 3D libraries like Three.js

WebGL is a low-level 2D rasterization engine that forms the foundation for 3D graphics in browsers - it works by converting 3D geometry into 2D pixels

Triangles are fundamental building blocks for 3D graphics because they are always planar and can approximate any 3D shape when combined

Shaders are GPU programs that come in pairs:

• Vertex shaders determine position of vertices in 3D space
• Fragment shaders calculate pixel colors and lighting effects

Three.js provides a high-level JavaScript API that simplifies 3D development compared to raw WebGL:

• Scene management
• Camera controls
• Lighting
• Materials and textures
• 3D model loading

PyScript handles JavaScript interop through proxies and async/await support, allowing Python to control browser animations smoothly

Browser-based 3D experiences can be deployed without installation - users just need a URL

Performance is good enough for interactive 3D applications, though there are some storage limits and download size considerations

The technology stack combines:

• PyScript for Python-to-JavaScript bridge
• PyOdide for Python runtime in browser
• WebGL/Three.js for 3D graphics
• HTML5 Canvas for rendering

Code examples and demos are available at PyScript.com, making it easy to experiment with browser-based 3D Python development