diff --git a/engine/imgui/src/sgpu/backend_impl.zig b/engine/imgui/src/sgpu/backend_impl.zig
index 813069b..e8c65d5 100644
--- a/engine/imgui/src/sgpu/backend_impl.zig
+++ b/engine/imgui/src/sgpu/backend_impl.zig
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ pub const Impl = struct {
 
         if (ig.begin("renderer debug", &self.rendererDebug, .{})) {
             _ = ig.sliderFloat("directional light yaw", &rend.context().directionalLightYaw, 0, 360, null, .{});
+            _ = ig.sliderFloat("ortho near", &rend.context().shadowOrthoNear, 0, 200, null, .{});
+            _ = ig.sliderFloat("ortho far", &rend.context().shadowOrthoFar, 0, 6000, null, .{});
             ig.end();
         }
     }
diff --git a/engine/rend/build.zig b/engine/rend/build.zig
index d00ab36..c1faebd 100644
--- a/engine/rend/build.zig
+++ b/engine/rend/build.zig
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", optimize, "debug.frag", b.path("shaders/debug.frag.json"));
     sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", optimize, "debug.vert", b.path("shaders/debug.vert.json"));
 
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", optimize, "depthOnly.frag", b.path("shaders/depthOnly.frag.json"));
+
     // ========== tests ==========
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .target = target,
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.hlsl b/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.hlsl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72c2022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.hlsl
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+float4 main(
+    float2 UV : TEXCOORD0,
+    float3 WorldPos: TEXCOORD1,
+    float3 Normal: TEXCOORD2,
+    float4 DirectionalShadowFragPos: TEXCOORD3
+
+) : SV_Target0
+{
+    return float4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
+}
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.json b/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae8d2c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/depthOnly.frag.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+    "entryPoints" : [
+        {
+            "name" : "main",
+            "mode" : "frag"
+        }
+    ],
+    "outputs" : [
+        {
+            "type" : "vec4",
+            "name" : "out.var.SV_Target0",
+            "location" : 0
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.hlsl b/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.hlsl
index 3556204..a97b9e1 100644
--- a/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.hlsl
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.hlsl
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 Texture2D<float4> Texture : register(t0, space2);
 SamplerState Sampler : register(s0, space2);
 
+Texture2D<float> DirectionalShadowDepthMap : register(t1, space2);
+SamplerState DirectionalShadowSampler : register(s1, space2);
+
 cbuffer Uniforms : register(b0, space3)
 {
     float4 viewPos;
     float4 lightPosition;
     float4 directionalLight;
     float4 directionalLightColor;
+    float2 screenSize;
     float time;
 };
 
@@ -68,8 +72,26 @@ float3 BlinnPhong(float3 normal, float3 fragPos, float3 lightPos, float3 lightCo
     
 }
 
-float3 DirectionalLight(float3 normal, float3 fragPos)
+float shadowCalculation(float3 fragPos, float4 DirectionalShadowFragPos)
 {
+    float3 shadowProjection = DirectionalShadowFragPos.xyz / DirectionalShadowFragPos.w;
+    shadowProjection = shadowProjection * 0.5 + 0.5 ;
+    shadowProjection.x = shadowProjection.x;
+
+    float2 uv = shadowProjection.xy;
+    uv.y = -uv.y;
+    float depthSample = DirectionalShadowDepthMap.Sample(DirectionalShadowSampler, uv);
+    float fragDepth = DirectionalShadowFragPos.z;
+
+    float bias = 0.005;
+    float shadow = fragDepth - bias > depthSample ? 1.0 : 0.0;
+
+    return shadow;
+}
+
+float3 DirectionalLight(float3 normal, float3 fragPos, float4  DirectionalShadowFragPos)
+{
+
     float3 lightDir = directionalLight.xyz;
     float diff = max(dot(lightDir, normal), 0.0);
     float3 diffuse = diff * directionalLightColor.xyz;
@@ -82,13 +104,21 @@ float3 DirectionalLight(float3 normal, float3 fragPos)
     spec = pow(max(dot(normal, halfwayDir), 0.0), 30.0);
     float3 specular = spec * directionalLightColor.xyz * 2;
 
+    // shadow mapping
+    
+    diffuse = diffuse * (1.0 - shadowCalculation(fragPos, DirectionalShadowFragPos));
+
     return diffuse;
 }
 
+
 float4 main(
+    float4 ScreenPosition: SV_POSITION,
+
     float2 UV : TEXCOORD0,
     float3 WorldPos: TEXCOORD1,
-    float3 Normal: TEXCOORD2
+    float3 Normal: TEXCOORD2,
+    float4 DirectionalShadowFragPos: TEXCOORD3
 ) : SV_Target0
 {
     float4 s = Texture.Sample(Sampler, UV);
@@ -102,14 +132,33 @@ float4 main(
     float3 lightPos = lightPosition.xyz; //+ float3(0, 20, 0);
     float3 lightColor = float3(0.8, 0.8, 0.5);
 
-    float3 ambient = lerp(float3(0.01, 0.01, 0.003), float3(0.004, 0.004, 0.06), dot(Normal, float3(0.0,1.0,0.0)) ) * 5;
+    float3 ambient = float3(0.1,0.1,0.1);
 
 
     float3 col = s.xyz;
-    float3 c2 = col * ambient + col * BlinnPhong(Normal, WorldPos, lightPos, lightColor) + col * DirectionalLight(Normal, WorldPos);
+    float3 c2 = col * ambient 
+        + col * BlinnPhong(Normal, WorldPos, lightPos, lightColor) 
+        + col * DirectionalLight(Normal, WorldPos,  DirectionalShadowFragPos);
 
     float4 rv = float4(pow(c2, 1.0 / 2.2), alpha);
 
+// === debug bone zone
+    // float3 shadowProjection = DirectionalShadowFragPos.xyz / DirectionalShadowFragPos.w;
+    // shadowProjection = shadowProjection * 0.5 + 0.5 ;
+    // shadowProjection.x = shadowProjection.x;
+
+    // float2 uv = shadowProjection.xy;
+    // uv.y = -uv.y;
+    // float depthSample = DirectionalShadowDepthMap.Sample(DirectionalShadowSampler, uv);
+    // float fragDepth = shadowProjection.z;
+
+    // float t = DirectionalShadowFragPos.z;
+    // t = depthSample;
+
+    // rv = float4(t, t, t, 1.0);
+
+    // rv.x = rv.x + lightPos.x * 0.0001;
+
     return rv;
 }
 
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json b/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json
index f40582d..982e4b0 100644
--- a/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
         }
     ],
     "types" : {
-        "_11" : {
+        "_14" : {
             "name" : "type.Uniforms",
             "members" : [
                 {
@@ -29,10 +29,15 @@
                     "type" : "vec4",
                     "offset" : 48
                 },
+                {
+                    "name" : "screenSize",
+                    "type" : "vec2",
+                    "offset" : 64
+                },
                 {
                     "name" : "time",
                     "type" : "float",
-                    "offset" : 64
+                    "offset" : 72
                 }
             ]
         }
@@ -52,6 +57,11 @@
             "type" : "vec3",
             "name" : "in.var.TEXCOORD2",
             "location" : 2
+        },
+        {
+            "type" : "vec4",
+            "name" : "in.var.TEXCOORD3",
+            "location" : 3
         }
     ],
     "outputs" : [
@@ -67,6 +77,12 @@
             "name" : "Texture",
             "set" : 2,
             "binding" : 0
+        },
+        {
+            "type" : "texture2D",
+            "name" : "DirectionalShadowDepthMap",
+            "set" : 2,
+            "binding" : 1
         }
     ],
     "separate_samplers" : [
@@ -75,13 +91,19 @@
             "name" : "Sampler",
             "set" : 2,
             "binding" : 0
+        },
+        {
+            "type" : "sampler",
+            "name" : "DirectionalShadowSampler",
+            "set" : 2,
+            "binding" : 1
         }
     ],
     "ubos" : [
         {
-            "type" : "_11",
+            "type" : "_14",
             "name" : "type.Uniforms",
-            "block_size" : 68,
+            "block_size" : 76,
             "set" : 3,
             "binding" : 0
         }
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.hlsl b/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.hlsl
index 4333206..1a59302 100644
--- a/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.hlsl
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.hlsl
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// I just reuse this one for the shadow mapping right?
+
 struct Input
 {
     float3 Position : TEXCOORD0;
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ struct Output
     float2 TexCoord : TEXCOORD0;
     float3 WorldPos : TEXCOORD1;
     float3 Normal: TEXCOORD2;
+    float4 DirectionalShadowFragPos: TEXCOORD3;
 
     float4 Position : SV_Position;
 };
@@ -29,6 +32,7 @@ StructuredBuffer<Scene> scene: register(t0, space0);
 cbuffer Uniforms : register(b0, space1)
 {
     float4x4 ViewProjection;
+    float4x4 ShadowMapProjection;
     float time;
 };
 
@@ -46,6 +50,7 @@ Output main(Input input)
     output.Position = mul(ViewProjection, mul(scene[input.Instance].Model, pos));
     output.WorldPos = WorldPos.xyz;
     output.Normal = input.Normal;
+    output.DirectionalShadowFragPos = mul(ShadowMapProjection, WorldPos);
 
     return output;
 }
diff --git a/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.json b/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.json
index 223906d..c135b46 100644
--- a/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.json
+++ b/engine/rend/shaders/meshes.vert.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
         }
     ],
     "types" : {
-        "_11" : {
+        "_12" : {
             "name" : "Scene",
             "members" : [
                 {
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@
                 }
             ]
         },
-        "_10" : {
+        "_11" : {
             "name" : "type.StructuredBuffer.Scene",
             "members" : [
                 {
                     "name" : "_m0",
-                    "type" : "_11",
+                    "type" : "_12",
                     "array" : [
                         0
                     ],
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
                 }
             ]
         },
-        "_13" : {
+        "_14" : {
             "name" : "type.Uniforms",
             "members" : [
                 {
@@ -45,10 +45,17 @@
                     "matrix_stride" : 16,
                     "row_major" : true
                 },
+                {
+                    "name" : "ShadowMapProjection",
+                    "type" : "mat4",
+                    "offset" : 64,
+                    "matrix_stride" : 16,
+                    "row_major" : true
+                },
                 {
                     "name" : "time",
                     "type" : "float",
-                    "offset" : 64
+                    "offset" : 128
                 }
             ]
         }
@@ -85,11 +92,16 @@
             "type" : "vec3",
             "name" : "out.var.TEXCOORD2",
             "location" : 2
+        },
+        {
+            "type" : "vec4",
+            "name" : "out.var.TEXCOORD3",
+            "location" : 3
         }
     ],
     "ssbos" : [
         {
-            "type" : "_10",
+            "type" : "_11",
             "name" : "scene",
             "readonly" : true,
             "block_size" : 0,
@@ -99,9 +111,9 @@
     ],
     "ubos" : [
         {
-            "type" : "_13",
+            "type" : "_14",
             "name" : "type.Uniforms",
-            "block_size" : 68,
+            "block_size" : 132,
             "set" : 1,
             "binding" : 0
         }
diff --git a/engine/rend/src/sgpu/DebugDrawSystem.zig b/engine/rend/src/sgpu/DebugDrawSystem.zig
index 8cf20e4..e0a2bda 100644
--- a/engine/rend/src/sgpu/DebugDrawSystem.zig
+++ b/engine/rend/src/sgpu/DebugDrawSystem.zig
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ pub fn createPipeline(self: *@This()) !*gpu.GPUGraphicsPipeline {
     pci.depth_stencil_state.write_mask = 0xff;
 
     pci.target_info.has_depth_stencil_target = true;
-    pci.target_info.depth_stencil_format = .textureformatD32Float;
+    pci.target_info.depth_stencil_format = rend.context().depthFormat;
     pci.target_info.num_color_targets = 1;
     pci.target_info.color_target_descriptions = &[_]gpu.GPUColorTargetDescription{
         .{
diff --git a/engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig b/engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig
index 6ba28e5..bc93b8f 100644
--- a/engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig
+++ b/engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig
@@ -37,9 +37,12 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
     preDraws: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(struct { ptr: *anyopaque, func: *const fn (*anyopaque, *gpu.GPUCommandBuffer) void }) = .{},
 
     depthTexture: *gpu.GPUTexture = undefined,
+    depthFormat: gpu.GPUTextureFormat = .textureformatD16Unorm,
 
     textureList: *TextureList = undefined,
 
+    shadowMapProjection: core.Transform = core.zm.identity(),
+
     blockySampler: *gpu.GPUSampler = undefined,
     defaultTexture: *rend.Texture = undefined,
 
@@ -47,9 +50,17 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
 
     debugDrawSys: *DebugDrawSystem = undefined,
 
+    shadowOrthoNear: f32 = -150,
+    shadowOrthoFar: f32 = 150,
+
     directionalLightYaw: f32 = 0.0,
     directionalLightColor: core.colors.Color = .{ .r = 0.8, .g = 0.8, .b = 0.9 },
-    directionalLightDir: core.Vectorf = core.Vectorf.new(0.5, 0.25, -1).normalize(),
+    directionalLightDir: core.Vectorf = core.Vectorf.new(0.5, -0.5, 0.0).normalize(),
+
+    shadowDepthFormat: gpu.GPUTextureFormat = .textureformatD16Unorm,
+    shadowDepthTexture: *gpu.GPUTexture = undefined,
+    shadowDepthDebugOutput: *gpu.GPUTexture = undefined,
+    shadowCastingPipeline: *gpu.GPUGraphicsPipeline = undefined,
 
     // transients DO NOT TOUCH
     swapchainTexture: ?*gpu.GPUTexture = undefined,
@@ -118,6 +129,13 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
         self.defaultTexture = getTexture(&defaultTextureName).?;
 
         self.debugDrawSys = try self.createRendererEngineObject(DebugDrawSystem);
+
+        try self.createDirectionalShadowsPipeline();
+    }
+
+    pub fn createDirectionalShadowsPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
+        try self.createShadowDepthTexture();
+        try self.createShadowCastingPipeline();
     }
 
     pub fn createSamplers(self: *@This()) !void {
@@ -174,11 +192,27 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
         return object;
     }
 
+    fn createShadowDepthTexture(self: *@This()) !void {
+        var gci = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUTextureCreateInfo);
+
+        const shadowMapRes = core.configVar(u32, "renderer.shadowmap.resolution", 2048);
+        gci.type = .texturetype2d;
+        gci.format = self.shadowDepthFormat;
+        gci.width = shadowMapRes;
+        gci.height = shadowMapRes;
+        gci.layer_count_or_depth = 1;
+        gci.num_levels = 1;
+        gci.sample_count = .samplecount1;
+        gci.usage = .{ .textureusageDepthStencilTarget = true, .textureusageSampler = true };
+
+        self.shadowDepthTexture = self.device.createGPUTexture(&gci);
+    }
+
     fn createDepthTexture(self: *@This()) !void {
         var gci = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUTextureCreateInfo);
 
         gci.type = .texturetype2d;
-        gci.format = .textureformatD32Float;
+        gci.format = self.depthFormat;
         gci.width = @intCast(self.scissor.w);
         gci.height = @intCast(self.scissor.h);
         gci.layer_count_or_depth = 1;
@@ -212,26 +246,31 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
         offset.* = offset.* + size;
     }
 
-    pub fn createMeshPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
+    pub fn generateVertexAttributeList(self: *@This()) !std.ArrayList(gpu.GPUVertexAttribute) {
+        var list = std.ArrayList(gpu.GPUVertexAttribute).init(self.allocator);
+        var offset: u32 = 0;
+        {
+            try addAttribute(&list, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 3, .vertexelementformatFloat3);
+            try addAttribute(&list, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 3, .vertexelementformatFloat3);
+            try addAttribute(&list, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 4, .vertexelementformatFloat4);
+            try addAttribute(&list, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 2, .vertexelementformatFloat2);
+            try addAttribute(&list, &offset, @sizeOf(u32), .vertexelementformatUint);
+        }
+
+        return list;
+    }
+
+    pub fn createShadowCastingPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
         const vertex = try self.loadShader("meshes.vert", meshes_vert.LoadArgs);
-        const fragment = try self.loadShader("lit_mesh.frag", lit_mesh_frag.LoadArgs);
+        const fragment = try self.loadShader("depthOnly.frag", depthOnly.LoadArgs);
 
         var pci = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo);
         pci.vertex_shader = vertex;
         pci.fragment_shader = fragment;
 
-        var attributes = std.ArrayList(gpu.GPUVertexAttribute).init(self.allocator);
+        var attributes = try self.generateVertexAttributeList();
         defer attributes.deinit();
 
-        var offset: u32 = 0;
-        {
-            try addAttribute(&attributes, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 3, .vertexelementformatFloat3);
-            try addAttribute(&attributes, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 3, .vertexelementformatFloat3);
-            try addAttribute(&attributes, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 4, .vertexelementformatFloat4);
-            try addAttribute(&attributes, &offset, @sizeOf(f32) * 2, .vertexelementformatFloat2);
-            try addAttribute(&attributes, &offset, @sizeOf(u32), .vertexelementformatUint);
-        }
-
         pci.vertex_input_state = .{
             .num_vertex_buffers = 1,
             .vertex_buffer_descriptions = &[_]gpu.GPUVertexBufferDescription{
@@ -247,7 +286,45 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
         pci.depth_stencil_state.write_mask = 0xff;
 
         pci.target_info.has_depth_stencil_target = true;
-        pci.target_info.depth_stencil_format = .textureformatD32Float;
+        pci.target_info.depth_stencil_format = self.shadowDepthFormat;
+
+        pci.target_info.num_color_targets = 0;
+
+        // no color targets
+        pci.rasterizer_state.cull_mode = .cullmodeNone;
+        pci.rasterizer_state.fill_mode = .fillmodeFill;
+        pci.rasterizer_state.enable_depth_bias = true;
+
+        self.shadowCastingPipeline = self.device.createGPUGraphicsPipeline(&pci);
+    }
+
+    pub fn createMeshPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
+        const vertex = try self.loadShader("meshes.vert", meshes_vert.LoadArgs);
+        const fragment = try self.loadShader("lit_mesh.frag", lit_mesh_frag.LoadArgs);
+
+        var pci = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUGraphicsPipelineCreateInfo);
+        pci.vertex_shader = vertex;
+        pci.fragment_shader = fragment;
+
+        var attributes = try self.generateVertexAttributeList();
+        defer attributes.deinit();
+
+        pci.vertex_input_state = .{
+            .num_vertex_buffers = 1,
+            .vertex_buffer_descriptions = &[_]gpu.GPUVertexBufferDescription{
+                .{ .slot = 0, .pitch = @sizeOf(rend.MeshVertex), .input_rate = .vertexinputrateVertex, .instance_step_rate = 0 },
+            },
+            .num_vertex_attributes = @intCast(attributes.items.len),
+            .vertex_attributes = @ptrCast(attributes.items.ptr),
+        };
+
+        pci.depth_stencil_state.compare_op = .compareopLess;
+        pci.depth_stencil_state.enable_depth_test = true;
+        pci.depth_stencil_state.enable_depth_write = true;
+        pci.depth_stencil_state.write_mask = 0xff;
+
+        pci.target_info.has_depth_stencil_target = true;
+        pci.target_info.depth_stencil_format = self.depthFormat;
         pci.target_info.num_color_targets = 1;
         pci.target_info.color_target_descriptions = &[_]gpu.GPUColorTargetDescription{
             .{
@@ -357,6 +434,8 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
             if (self.activeCamera) |camera| {
                 ptr.ViewProjection = @bitCast(camera.final);
             }
+            ptr.ShadowMapProjection = @bitCast(self.shadowMapProjection);
+            // ptr.ViewProjection = @bitCast(self.shadowMapProjection);
 
             ptr.time = @floatCast(self.totalTime);
 
@@ -371,8 +450,9 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
             if (self.activeCamera) |cam| {
                 position = cam.finalPos;
             }
-            const resolved = core.Rotation.eulerY(core.radians(self.directionalLightYaw)).rotateVector(self.directionalLightDir);
+            const resolved = core.Rotation.eulerY(core.radians(self.directionalLightYaw)).rotateVector(self.directionalLightDir.fmul(-1));
 
+            ptr.screenSize = @bitCast(platform.context().extent);
             ptr.viewPos = @bitCast(position.toZm());
             ptr.lightPosition = @bitCast(self.lightPosition.toZm());
             ptr.directionalLight = @bitCast(resolved.toZm());
@@ -425,32 +505,109 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
 
         const cmd = self.device.acquireGPUCommandBuffer();
         self.frameUploads();
-        try self.uploadUniforms(cmd);
 
         for (self.preDraws.items) |interface| {
             interface.func(interface.ptr, cmd);
         }
 
+        // mesh pre-iteration
+        const container = rend.MeshComponent.BaseContainer;
+        const uploadCount: usize = @min(container.dense.items.len, MaxObjectCount);
+
+        for (0..uploadCount) |i| {
+            const component = &container.dense.items[i].value;
+
+            if (component.mesh == null) {
+                component.updateMesh();
+            }
+
+            if (component.texture == null) {
+                component.updateTexture();
+            }
+        }
+
+        self.drawDirectionalShadowMap(cmd);
+
+        self.draw(cmd);
+    }
+
+    // orthographic view projection from the sun towards the center of the thing
+    pub fn shadowMapOrtho(self: *@This()) core.Transform {
+        const ortho = core.zm.orthographicLh(200, 200, self.shadowOrthoNear, self.shadowOrthoFar);
+        var rotation = core.zm.lookAtLh(
+            .{ 0, 0, 0, 1 },
+            self.directionalLightDir.toZm(),
+            .{ 0, 1, 0, 1 },
+        );
+
+        rotation = core.zm.mul(core.zm.rotationY(core.radians(self.directionalLightYaw)), rotation);
+
+        return core.zm.mul(rotation, ortho);
+    }
+
+    pub fn drawDirectionalShadowMap(self: *@This(), cmd: *gpu.GPUCommandBuffer) void {
+        {
+            var data = std.mem.zeroes([@sizeOf(meshes_vert.Uniforms) / 8 + 1]usize);
+            const ptr: *meshes_vert.Uniforms = @ptrCast(@alignCast(&data));
+            self.shadowMapProjection = self.shadowMapOrtho();
+            ptr.ViewProjection = @bitCast(self.shadowMapProjection);
+
+            cmd.pushGPUVertexUniformData(0, &data, @sizeOf(meshes_vert.Uniforms));
+        }
+
+        // can cache this
+        const depthTarget = std.mem.zeroInit(gpu.GPUDepthStencilTargetInfo, .{
+            .texture = self.shadowDepthTexture,
+            .load_op = .loadopClear,
+            .store_op = .storeopStore,
+            .stencil_load_op = .loadopDontCare,
+            .stencil_store_op = .storeopDontCare,
+            .clear_depth = 1.0,
+            .clear_stencil = 0,
+        });
+
+        const renderpass = cmd.beginGPURenderPass(null, 0, &depthTarget);
+        renderpass.bindGPUGraphicsPipeline(self.shadowCastingPipeline);
+        renderpass.bindGPUVertexStorageBuffers(0, &self.ssboScene, 1);
+        renderpass.bindGPUVertexBuffers(0, &.{ .buffer = self.meshPool.vertexBuffer, .offset = 0 }, 1);
+        renderpass.bindGPUIndexBuffer(&.{ .buffer = self.meshPool.indexBuffer, .offset = 0 }, .indexelementsize32bit);
+
+        const container = rend.MeshComponent.BaseContainer;
+        const uploadCount: usize = @min(container.dense.items.len, MaxObjectCount);
+        for (0..uploadCount) |i| {
+            const component = &container.dense.items[i].value;
+            if (component.mesh) |mesh| {
+                renderpass.drawGPUIndexedPrimitives(mesh.index.size, 1, mesh.index.start, @intCast(mesh.vertex.start), @intCast(i));
+            }
+        }
+        renderpass.endGPURenderPass();
+    }
+
+    pub fn draw(self: *@This(), cmd: *gpu.GPUCommandBuffer) void {
         if (cmd.waitAndAcquireGPUSwapchainTexture(self.window, @ptrCast(&self.swapchainTexture), null, null)) {
             if (self.swapchainTexture == null) {
                 _ = cmd.submitGPUCommandBuffer();
                 return;
             }
+            try self.uploadUniforms(cmd);
 
-            var targetInfo: gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo);
-            targetInfo.texture = self.swapchainTexture.?;
-            targetInfo.clear_color = .{ .r = 0.1, .g = 0.1, .b = 0.1, .a = 1.0 };
-            targetInfo.load_op = .loadopClear;
-            targetInfo.store_op = .storeopStore;
+            // can cache this
+            const targetInfo: gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo = std.mem.zeroInit(gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo, .{
+                .texture = self.swapchainTexture.?,
+                .clear_color = .{ .r = 0.1, .g = 0.1, .b = 0.1, .a = 1.0 },
+                .load_op = .loadopClear,
+                .store_op = .storeopStore,
+            });
 
-            var depthTarget = std.mem.zeroes(gpu.GPUDepthStencilTargetInfo);
-            depthTarget.texture = self.depthTexture;
-            depthTarget.load_op = .loadopClear;
-            depthTarget.store_op = .storeopDontCare;
-            depthTarget.stencil_load_op = .loadopDontCare;
-            depthTarget.stencil_store_op = .storeopDontCare;
-            depthTarget.clear_depth = 1.0;
-            depthTarget.clear_stencil = 0;
+            const depthTarget = std.mem.zeroInit(gpu.GPUDepthStencilTargetInfo, .{
+                .texture = self.depthTexture,
+                .load_op = .loadopClear,
+                .store_op = .storeopDontCare,
+                .stencil_load_op = .loadopDontCare,
+                .stencil_store_op = .storeopDontCare,
+                .clear_depth = 1.0,
+                .clear_stencil = 0,
+            });
 
             const renderpass = cmd.beginGPURenderPass(&targetInfo, 1, &depthTarget);
             //renderpass.bindGPUGraphicsPipeline(self.testPipeline);
@@ -460,36 +617,26 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
             renderpass.bindGPUVertexStorageBuffers(0, &self.ssboScene, 1);
             renderpass.bindGPUVertexBuffers(0, &.{ .buffer = self.meshPool.vertexBuffer, .offset = 0 }, 1);
             renderpass.bindGPUIndexBuffer(&.{ .buffer = self.meshPool.indexBuffer, .offset = 0 }, .indexelementsize32bit);
+            renderpass.bindGPUFragmentSamplers(1, &.{ .texture = self.shadowDepthTexture, .sampler = self.blockySampler }, 1);
             // todo move into materials system
 
             renderpass.setGPUScissor(&self.scissor);
 
-            //SDL_BindGPUFragmentSamplers(renderPass, 0, &(SDL_GPUTextureSamplerBinding){ .texture = Texture, .sampler = Samplers[CurrentSamplerIndex] }, 1);
             //rendering each mesh
             {
                 const container = rend.MeshComponent.BaseContainer;
                 const uploadCount: usize = @min(container.dense.items.len, MaxObjectCount);
                 for (0..uploadCount) |i| {
-                    // core.engine_log("pushing draw {d}", .{i});
                     const component = &container.dense.items[i].value;
 
-                    // todo move this to slow tick? only update once every 1 second or so?
-                    if (component.mesh == null) {
-                        component.updateMesh();
-                    }
-
-                    if (component.texture == null) {
-                        component.updateTexture();
-                    }
-
                     var t = component.texture;
                     if (t == null) {
                         t = self.defaultTexture;
                     }
+
                     renderpass.bindGPUFragmentSamplers(0, &.{ .texture = t.?.texture, .sampler = self.blockySampler }, 1);
 
                     if (component.mesh) |mesh| {
-                        // core.engine_log("pushing draw for instance {d}", .{i});
                         renderpass.drawGPUIndexedPrimitives(mesh.index.size, 1, mesh.index.start, @intCast(mesh.vertex.start), @intCast(i));
                     }
                 }
@@ -543,6 +690,7 @@ const gpu = sdl3.gpu;
 
 const meshes_vert = @import("meshes.vert");
 const lit_mesh_frag = @import("lit_mesh.frag");
+const depthOnly = @import("depthOnly.frag");
 const sample_vert = @import("sample.vert");
 
 const MeshVertices = meshes_vert.Scene;
diff --git a/extras/readme.md b/extras/readme.md
index e69de29..cd306fa 100644
--- a/extras/readme.md
+++ b/extras/readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+extras are like engine plugins 
+
+they have access to all engine modules without having to be upstreamed as part of the engine
+
+and they don't have to be linked into your project unless you want them to be.
diff --git a/lib/sdl3/src/gpu.zig b/lib/sdl3/src/gpu.zig
index cf696e9..6852595 100644
--- a/lib/sdl3/src/gpu.zig
+++ b/lib/sdl3/src/gpu.zig
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ pub const GPUColorTargetInfo = extern struct {
     clear_color: FColor, // The color to clear the color target to at the start of the render pass. Ignored if SDL_GPU_LOADOP_CLEAR is not used.
     load_op: GPULoadOp, // What is done with the contents of the color target at the beginning of the render pass.
     store_op: GPUStoreOp, // What is done with the results of the render pass.
-    resolve_texture: *GPUTexture, // The texture that will receive the results of a multisample resolve operation. Ignored if a RESOLVE* store_op is not used.
+    resolve_texture: ?*GPUTexture, // The texture that will receive the results of a multisample resolve operation. Ignored if a RESOLVE* store_op is not used.
     resolve_mip_level: u32, // The mip level of the resolve texture to use for the resolve operation. Ignored if a RESOLVE* store_op is not used.
     resolve_layer: u32, // The layer index of the resolve texture to use for the resolve operation. Ignored if a RESOLVE* store_op is not used.
     cycle: bool, // true cycles the texture if the texture is bound and load_op is not LOAD
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/depthOnly.frag.dxil b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/depthOnly.frag.dxil
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b03e545
Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/depthOnly.frag.dxil differ
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/lit_mesh.frag.dxil b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/lit_mesh.frag.dxil
index 87c9092..d7893de 100644
Binary files a/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/lit_mesh.frag.dxil and b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/lit_mesh.frag.dxil differ
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/meshes.vert.dxil b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/meshes.vert.dxil
index ff4f46e..9685fde 100644
Binary files a/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/meshes.vert.dxil and b/projects/content/_shaders/dxil/meshes.vert.dxil differ
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/msl/depthOnly.frag.msl b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/depthOnly.frag.msl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e221fab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/depthOnly.frag.msl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target0 [[color(0)]];
+};
+
+fragment main0_out main0()
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = float4(1.0);
+    return out;
+}
+
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/msl/lit_mesh.frag.msl b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/lit_mesh.frag.msl
index 3f54b53..5c4c56f 100644
--- a/projects/content/_shaders/msl/lit_mesh.frag.msl
+++ b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/lit_mesh.frag.msl
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@ struct type_Uniforms
     float4 lightPosition;
     float4 directionalLight;
     float4 directionalLightColor;
+    float2 screenSize;
     float time;
 };
 
+constant float3 _56 = {};
+
 struct main0_out
 {
     float4 out_var_SV_Target0 [[color(0)]];
@@ -22,14 +25,15 @@ struct main0_in
     float2 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
     float3 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
     float3 in_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    float4 in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
 };
 
-fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], texture2d<float> Texture [[texture(0)]], sampler Sampler [[sampler(0)]])
+fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], texture2d<float> Texture [[texture(0)]], texture2d<float> DirectionalShadowDepthMap [[texture(1)]], sampler Sampler [[sampler(0)]], sampler DirectionalShadowSampler [[sampler(1)]])
 {
     main0_out out = {};
-    float4 _61 = Texture.sample(Sampler, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0);
-    float _62 = _61.w;
-    if (_62 < 0.00999999977648258209228515625)
+    float4 _65 = Texture.sample(Sampler, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0);
+    float _66 = _65.w;
+    if (_66 < 0.00999999977648258209228515625)
     {
         discard_fragment();
     }
@@ -68,7 +72,12 @@ fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Unifo
         _119 = ((float3(0.800000011920928955078125, 0.800000011920928955078125, 0.5) * precise::max(dot(_100, in.in_var_TEXCOORD2), 0.0)) * _93) + (((float3(0.800000011920928955078125, 0.800000011920928955078125, 0.5) * powr(precise::max(dot(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, fast::normalize(_100 + fast::normalize(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1 - Uniforms.viewPos.xyz))), 0.0), 30.0)) * 2.0) * _93);
         break;
     } while(false);
-    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = float4(powr(_61.xyz * (((mix(float3(0.00999999977648258209228515625, 0.00999999977648258209228515625, 0.0030000000260770320892333984375), float3(0.0040000001899898052215576171875, 0.0040000001899898052215576171875, 0.0599999986588954925537109375), float3(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y)) * 5.0) + _119) + (Uniforms.directionalLightColor.xyz * precise::max(dot(Uniforms.directionalLight.xyz, in.in_var_TEXCOORD2), 0.0))), float3(0.4545454680919647216796875)), _62);
+    float3 _136 = ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.xyz / float3(in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.w)) * 0.5) + float3(0.5);
+    float3 _138;
+    _138.x = _136.x;
+    float2 _139 = _138.xy;
+    _139.y = -_136.y;
+    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = float4(powr(_65.xyz * ((float3(0.100000001490116119384765625) + _119) + ((Uniforms.directionalLightColor.xyz * precise::max(dot(Uniforms.directionalLight.xyz, in.in_var_TEXCOORD2), 0.0)) * (1.0 - float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.z - 0.004999999888241291046142578125) > DirectionalShadowDepthMap.sample(DirectionalShadowSampler, _139).x)))), float3(0.4545454680919647216796875)), _66);
     return out;
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/msl/meshes.vert.msl b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/meshes.vert.msl
index ec6dfbc..187dcb9 100644
--- a/projects/content/_shaders/msl/meshes.vert.msl
+++ b/projects/content/_shaders/msl/meshes.vert.msl
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ struct type_StructuredBuffer_Scene
 struct type_Uniforms
 {
     float4x4 ViewProjection;
+    float4x4 ShadowMapProjection;
     float time;
 };
 
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ struct main0_out
     float2 out_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
     float3 out_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
     float3 out_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    float4 out_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
     float4 gl_Position [[position]];
 };
 
@@ -37,11 +39,13 @@ struct main0_in
 vertex main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_Scene& scene [[buffer(1)]], uint gl_InstanceIndex [[instance_id]])
 {
     main0_out out = {};
-    float4 _44 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD0, 1.0);
+    float4 _46 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD0, 1.0);
+    float4 _49 = scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _46;
     out.out_var_TEXCOORD0 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD3;
-    out.out_var_TEXCOORD1 = (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _44).xyz;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD1 = _49.xyz;
     out.out_var_TEXCOORD2 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD1;
-    out.gl_Position = Uniforms.ViewProjection * (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _44);
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD3 = Uniforms.ShadowMapProjection * _49;
+    out.gl_Position = Uniforms.ViewProjection * (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _46);
     return out;
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/spv/depthOnly.frag.spv b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/depthOnly.frag.spv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e413c3
Binary files /dev/null and b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/depthOnly.frag.spv differ
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/spv/lit_mesh.frag.spv b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/lit_mesh.frag.spv
index a5e8b1c..d7c14fa 100644
Binary files a/projects/content/_shaders/spv/lit_mesh.frag.spv and b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/lit_mesh.frag.spv differ
diff --git a/projects/content/_shaders/spv/meshes.vert.spv b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/meshes.vert.spv
index ac79cd2..66db4e6 100644
Binary files a/projects/content/_shaders/spv/meshes.vert.spv and b/projects/content/_shaders/spv/meshes.vert.spv differ