This repository contains a path tracer implementation in Rust. The program is capable of rendering images of 3D scenes with spheres and planes.

Path tracing is a computer graphics method of rendering images of three-dimensional scenes such that the global illumination is faithful to reality. It is a physically based rendering algorithm that simulates light transport, which naturally simulates many effects that have to be specifically added to other algorithms. These effects include soft shadows, depth of field, motion blur, caustics, ambient occlusion, and indirect lighting. Path tracing is a Monte Carlo method: it repeatedly traces paths of light through the scene and uses the results to estimate the final image.

To compile the program, run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo build

If you want to compile the program without debbuging information, run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo build --release

Both methods will create a binary in the target/release directory. The binary will be named path_tracer.

To build the documentation, run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo doc

The documentation will be created in the target/doc directory. To view the documentation, open the index.html file in the target/doc directory in a web browser or run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo doc --open

To run the program, run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo run

To run the program without debbuging information, run the following command in the root directory of the project:

cargo run --release

The program will create a output.ppm file in the root directory of the project. The file will contain the rendered image.