diff --git a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.hpp b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.hpp
index 8a3cf2c..81c7f4f 100644
--- a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.hpp
+++ b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.hpp
@@ -78,34 +78,46 @@ class ShaderCompiler {
     // Attempt to guess the shader_kind from the file extension if shader_kind = std::nullopt.
     //
     // May throw compilation_failed.
-    virtual std::vector<uint32_t>
-    compile_glsl(const std::filesystem::path& path,
-                 const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt) {
+    virtual std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(
+        const std::filesystem::path& path,
+        const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const {
         return compile_glsl(FileLoader::load_file(path), path.string(),
-                            optional_shader_kind.value_or(guess_kind(path)));
+                            optional_shader_kind.value_or(guess_kind(path)),
+                            additional_include_paths, additional_macro_definitions);
     }
 
     // May throw compilation_failed.
-    virtual std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                               const std::string& source_name,
-                                               const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) = 0;
+    virtual std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(
+        const std::string& source,
+        const std::string& source_name,
+        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const = 0;
 
     // ------------------------------------------------
 
     ShaderModuleHandle compile_glsl_to_shadermodule(
         const ContextHandle& context,
         const std::filesystem::path& path,
-        const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt) {
+        const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const {
         const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind = optional_shader_kind.value_or(guess_kind(path));
-        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(context, compile_glsl(path, shader_kind),
-                                              shader_kind);
+        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(
+            context,
+            compile_glsl(path, shader_kind, additional_include_paths, additional_macro_definitions),
+            shader_kind);
     }
 
     // uses the file_loader provided from context.
     ShaderModuleHandle find_compile_glsl_to_shadermodule(
         const ContextHandle& context,
         const std::filesystem::path& path,
-        const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt) {
+        const std::optional<vk::ShaderStageFlagBits> optional_shader_kind = std::nullopt,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const {
 
         const std::optional<std::filesystem::path> resolved = context->file_loader.find_file(path);
         if (!resolved) {
@@ -114,20 +126,37 @@ class ShaderCompiler {
 
         const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind =
             optional_shader_kind.value_or(guess_kind(*resolved));
-        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(context, compile_glsl(*resolved, shader_kind),
+        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(context,
+                                              compile_glsl(*resolved, shader_kind,
+                                                           additional_include_paths,
+                                                           additional_macro_definitions),
                                               shader_kind);
     }
 
-    ShaderModuleHandle compile_glsl_to_shadermodule(const ContextHandle& context,
-                                                    const std::string& source,
-                                                    const std::string& source_name,
-                                                    const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) {
-        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(
-            context, compile_glsl(source, source_name, shader_kind), shader_kind);
+    ShaderModuleHandle compile_glsl_to_shadermodule(
+        const ContextHandle& context,
+        const std::string& source,
+        const std::string& source_name,
+        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const {
+        return std::make_shared<ShaderModule>(context,
+                                              compile_glsl(source, source_name, shader_kind,
+                                                           additional_include_paths,
+                                                           additional_macro_definitions),
+                                              shader_kind);
     }
 
     // ------------------------------------------------
 
+    void add_include_path(const std::string& include_path) {
+        include_paths.emplace_back(include_path);
+    }
+
+    void add_macro_definition(const std::string& key, const std::string& value) {
+        macro_definitions.emplace(key, value);
+    }
+
     const std::vector<std::string>& get_include_paths() const {
         return include_paths;
     }
diff --git a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.hpp b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.hpp
index 6e5b3b5..a0df2ee 100644
--- a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.hpp
+++ b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.hpp
@@ -17,16 +17,19 @@ class ShadercCompiler : public ShaderCompiler {
 
     ~ShadercCompiler();
 
-    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                       const std::string& source_name,
-                                       const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) override;
+    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(
+        const std::string& source,
+        const std::string& source_name,
+        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const override;
 
     bool available() const override;
 
   private:
+    const uint32_t vk_api_version;
 #ifdef MERIAN_SHADERC_FOUND
     shaderc::Compiler shader_compiler;
-    shaderc::CompileOptions compile_options;
 #endif
 };
 
diff --git a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.hpp b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.hpp
index f74b67e..4f5e47c 100644
--- a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.hpp
+++ b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.hpp
@@ -16,9 +16,12 @@ class SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler : public ShaderCompiler {
 
     ~SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler();
 
-    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                       const std::string& source_name,
-                                       const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) override;
+    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(
+        const std::string& source,
+        const std::string& source_name,
+        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const override;
 
     bool available() const override;
 
diff --git a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.hpp b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.hpp
index 5177f22..4e172e5 100644
--- a/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.hpp
+++ b/include/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.hpp
@@ -15,9 +15,12 @@ class SystemGlslcCompiler : public ShaderCompiler {
 
     ~SystemGlslcCompiler();
 
-    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                       const std::string& source_name,
-                                       const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) override;
+    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(
+        const std::string& source,
+        const std::string& source_name,
+        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+        const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {}) const override;
 
     bool available() const override;
 
diff --git a/src/merian-nodes/nodes/shadertoy/shadertoy.cpp b/src/merian-nodes/nodes/shadertoy/shadertoy.cpp
index 23fdf26..54e527a 100644
--- a/src/merian-nodes/nodes/shadertoy/shadertoy.cpp
+++ b/src/merian-nodes/nodes/shadertoy/shadertoy.cpp
@@ -65,12 +65,17 @@ class ShadertoyInjectCompiler : public ShaderCompiler {
 
     ~ShadertoyInjectCompiler() {}
 
-    std::vector<uint32_t> compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                       const std::string& source_name,
-                                       const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) final override {
+    std::vector<uint32_t>
+    compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
+                 const std::string& source_name,
+                 const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+                 const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+                 const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions = {})
+        const final override {
         SPDLOG_INFO("(re-)compiling {}", source_name);
         return forwarding_compiler->compile_glsl(shadertoy_pre + source + shadertoy_post,
-                                                 source_name, shader_kind);
+                                                 source_name, shader_kind, additional_include_paths,
+                                                 additional_macro_definitions);
     }
 
     bool available() const override {
diff --git a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.cpp b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.cpp
index c38590b..cae52a6 100644
--- a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.cpp
+++ b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ class DummyShaderCompiler : public ShaderCompiler {
     std::vector<uint32_t>
     compile_glsl([[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source,
                  [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source_name,
-                 [[maybe_unused]] const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) override {
+                 [[maybe_unused]] const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+                 [[maybe_unused]] const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths = {},
+                 [[maybe_unused]] const std::map<std::string, std::string>&
+                     additional_macro_definitions = {}) const override {
         throw compilation_failed{"compiler not available"};
     }
 
@@ -47,8 +50,7 @@ ShaderCompiler::get(const ContextHandle& context,
     }
 
     ShaderCompilerHandle glslc =
-        std::make_shared<SystemGlslcCompiler>(context, user_include_paths,
-        user_macro_definitions);
+        std::make_shared<SystemGlslcCompiler>(context, user_include_paths, user_macro_definitions);
     if (glslc->available()) {
         SPDLOG_DEBUG("using installed glslc as default compiler");
         return glslc;
@@ -62,7 +64,8 @@ ShaderCompiler::get(const ContextHandle& context,
 ShaderCompiler::ShaderCompiler(const ContextHandle& context,
                                const std::vector<std::string>& user_include_paths,
                                const std::map<std::string, std::string>& user_macro_definitions)
-    : include_paths(user_include_paths), macro_definitions(user_macro_definitions) {
+    : include_paths(user_include_paths.begin(), user_include_paths.end()),
+      macro_definitions(user_macro_definitions) {
 
     insert_all(include_paths, context->get_default_shader_include_paths());
     macro_definitions.insert(context->get_default_shader_macro_definitions().begin(),
diff --git a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.cpp b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.cpp
index c63f291..58e891c 100644
--- a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.cpp
+++ b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc.cpp
@@ -111,41 +111,52 @@ shaderc_shader_kind_for_stage_flag_bit(const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind
 ShadercCompiler::ShadercCompiler(const ContextHandle& context,
                                  const std::vector<std::string>& user_include_paths,
                                  const std::map<std::string, std::string>& user_macro_definitions)
-    : ShaderCompiler(context, user_include_paths, user_macro_definitions) {
+    : ShaderCompiler(context, user_include_paths, user_macro_definitions),
+      vk_api_version(context->vk_api_version) {}
+
+ShadercCompiler::~ShadercCompiler() {}
+
+std::vector<uint32_t> ShadercCompiler::compile_glsl(
+    const std::string& source,
+    const std::string& source_name,
+    const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+    const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths,
+    const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions) const {
+    const shaderc_shader_kind kind = shaderc_shader_kind_for_stage_flag_bit(shader_kind);
+
+    shaderc::CompileOptions compile_options;
 
     for (const auto& [key, value] : get_macro_definitions()) {
         compile_options.AddMacroDefinition(key, value);
     }
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : additional_macro_definitions) {
+        compile_options.AddMacroDefinition(key, value);
+    }
 
     auto includer = std::make_unique<FileIncluder>();
     for (const auto& include_path : get_include_paths()) {
         includer->get_file_loader().add_search_path(include_path);
     }
+    for (const auto& include_path : additional_include_paths) {
+        includer->get_file_loader().add_search_path(include_path);
+    }
     compile_options.SetIncluder(std::move(includer));
     compile_options.SetOptimizationLevel(
         shaderc_optimization_level::shaderc_optimization_level_performance);
 
-    if (context->vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_0) {
+    if (vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_0) {
         compile_options.SetTargetEnvironment(shaderc_target_env_vulkan,
                                              shaderc_env_version_vulkan_1_0);
-    } else if (context->vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_1) {
+    } else if (vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_1) {
         compile_options.SetTargetEnvironment(shaderc_target_env_vulkan,
                                              shaderc_env_version_vulkan_1_1);
-    } else if (context->vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_2) {
+    } else if (vk_api_version == VK_API_VERSION_1_2) {
         compile_options.SetTargetEnvironment(shaderc_target_env_vulkan,
                                              shaderc_env_version_vulkan_1_2);
     } else {
         compile_options.SetTargetEnvironment(shaderc_target_env_vulkan,
                                              shaderc_env_version_vulkan_1_3);
     }
-}
-
-ShadercCompiler::~ShadercCompiler() {}
-
-std::vector<uint32_t> ShadercCompiler::compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                                    const std::string& source_name,
-                                                    const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) {
-    const shaderc_shader_kind kind = shaderc_shader_kind_for_stage_flag_bit(shader_kind);
 
     SPDLOG_DEBUG("preprocess {}", source_name);
     const auto preprocess_result =
diff --git a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc_stub.cpp b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc_stub.cpp
index bf4bc16..8ca62d3 100644
--- a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc_stub.cpp
+++ b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_shaderc_stub.cpp
@@ -7,14 +7,16 @@ namespace merian {
 ShadercCompiler::ShadercCompiler(const ContextHandle& context,
                                  const std::vector<std::string>& include_paths,
                                  const std::map<std::string, std::string>& macro_definitions)
-    : ShaderCompiler(context, include_paths, macro_definitions) {}
+    : ShaderCompiler(context, include_paths, macro_definitions), vk_api_version(-1) {}
 
 ShadercCompiler::~ShadercCompiler() {}
 
-std::vector<uint32_t>
-ShadercCompiler::compile_glsl([[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source,
-                              [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source_name,
-                              [[maybe_unused]] const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) {
+std::vector<uint32_t> ShadercCompiler::compile_glsl(
+    [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source,
+    [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& source_name,
+    [[maybe_unused]] const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+    [[maybe_unused]] const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths,
+    [[maybe_unused]] const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions) const {
     throw merian::ShaderCompiler::compilation_failed{
         "shaderc is not available (was not found or enabled at compile time)"};
 }
diff --git a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.cpp b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.cpp
index 1b50832..970c8f9 100644
--- a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.cpp
+++ b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslangValidator.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,12 @@ SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler::SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler(
 
 SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler::~SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler() {}
 
-std::vector<uint32_t>
-SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler::compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                             const std::string& source_name,
-                                             const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) {
+std::vector<uint32_t> SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler::compile_glsl(
+    const std::string& source,
+    const std::string& source_name,
+    const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+    const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths,
+    const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions) const {
     if (compiler_executable.empty()) {
         throw compilation_failed{"compiler not available"};
     }
@@ -59,8 +61,14 @@ SystemGlslangValidatorCompiler::compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
     for (const auto& inc_dir : get_include_paths()) {
         command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-I{}", inc_dir));
     }
-    for (const auto& macro_def : get_macro_definitions()) {
-        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", macro_def.first, macro_def.second));
+    for (const auto& inc_dir : additional_include_paths) {
+        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-I{}", inc_dir));
+    }
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : get_macro_definitions()) {
+        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", key, value));
+    }
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : additional_macro_definitions) {
+        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", key, value));
     }
 
     const std::string output_file = temporary_file();
diff --git a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.cpp b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.cpp
index e183efd..9c29c54 100644
--- a/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.cpp
+++ b/src/merian/vk/shader/shader_compiler_system_glslc.cpp
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ SystemGlslcCompiler::SystemGlslcCompiler(
 
 SystemGlslcCompiler::~SystemGlslcCompiler() {}
 
-std::vector<uint32_t> SystemGlslcCompiler::compile_glsl(const std::string& source,
-                                                        const std::string& source_name,
-                                                        const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind) {
+std::vector<uint32_t> SystemGlslcCompiler::compile_glsl(
+    const std::string& source,
+    const std::string& source_name,
+    const vk::ShaderStageFlagBits shader_kind,
+    const std::vector<std::string>& additional_include_paths,
+    const std::map<std::string, std::string>& additional_macro_definitions) const {
     if (compiler_executable.empty()) {
         throw compilation_failed{"compiler not available"};
     }
@@ -57,8 +60,15 @@ std::vector<uint32_t> SystemGlslcCompiler::compile_glsl(const std::string& sourc
         command.emplace_back("-I");
         command.emplace_back(inc_dir);
     }
-    for (const auto& macro_def : get_macro_definitions()) {
-        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", macro_def.first, macro_def.second));
+    for (const auto& inc_dir : additional_include_paths) {
+        command.emplace_back("-I");
+        command.emplace_back(inc_dir);
+    }
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : get_macro_definitions()) {
+        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", key, value));
+    }
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : additional_macro_definitions) {
+        command.emplace_back(fmt::format("-D{}={}", key, value));
     }
 
     // turn on optimization