Unity Shader IDE Bridge for Rider

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Open shader-related files in JetBrains Rider, while keeping C# scripts opening in your primary IDE (Visual Studio / VS Code / etc.).

Unity can only select one External Script Editor. This package gives you a split workflow:

• C# → your main IDE
• Shader/HLSL/etc. → Rider

UPM package name: com.clerin.unity.shader-ide-bridge-rider

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Installation (UPM / Git URL)

Unity: Window > Package Manager > + > Add package from git URL...

https://github.com/jinhyeonseo01/UnityShaderIDEBridge-Rider.git

Specific version tag:

https://github.com/jinhyeonseo01/UnityShaderIDEBridge-Rider.git#v1.0.0

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Quick Setup

1. Unity: Edit > Preferences > External Tools
2. Set External Script Editor to your C# IDE (Visual Studio / VS Code / etc.)
3. Open Project Settings: Project > Clerin > Shader IDE Bridge

Settings

Setting	Meaning
Enable OnOpenAsset Bridge	Intercept shader files and open them in Rider
Enable Diagnostics Warnings	Log warnings if Rider cannot be resolved

Note: If your External Script Editor is already Rider, the bridge stays inactive (Unity default behavior), and the manual menu is hidden/disabled.

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Features

• Hooks Unity’s OnOpenAsset only for shader-related extensions
• Does not change Unity’s External Script Editor setting
• Finds Rider via Toolbox / Program Files / PATH / env vars, then launches with line support (--line)
• Includes Diagnostics so you can see why Rider was (not) detected

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Supported File Types

.shader, .compute, .hlsl, .cginc, .glslinc, .cg

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Requirements

• Unity 6000.3.x (Unity 6.3 baseline)
• JetBrains Rider installed
• Unity package com.unity.ide.rider (declared in package.json)

Recommended (for reliability + speed)

Set one of these environment variables to Rider’s executable:

• RIDER_PATH (preferred)
• JETBRAINS_RIDER_PATH
• JETBRAINS_RIDER

Windows example:

C:\Program Files\JetBrains\JetBrains Rider 2025.x\bin\rider64.exe

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Usage

Automatic (recommended)

• Double-click a supported shader file in the Unity Project window.

Manual

• Select a supported asset
• Tools > Clerin > Shader IDE Bridge > Open In Rider

Diagnostics

• Tools > Clerin > Shader IDE Bridge > Validate Rider Shader Setup
• Tools > Clerin > Shader IDE Bridge > Clear Rider Cache (forces a fresh path scan on next open)

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Limitations (by design)

• No custom include indexing / mirroring
• No extra language service or parsing layer
  → Rider handles Shader/HLSL parsing, navigation, and include resolution.

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Troubleshooting

Rider doesn’t open / first open is slow

• Run: Tools > Clerin > Shader IDE Bridge > Validate Rider Shader Setup
• Set RIDER_PATH to avoid path probing on first open.

File isn’t intercepted

• Only the listed extensions are handled.
• If External Script Editor is Rider, interception is disabled by design.

It opens in the wrong IDE

• Confirm External Script Editor is not Rider (this package is for split-IDE setups).

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License

MIT — see LICENSE.md