AR/VR Skills Roadmap
A practical AR/VR roadmap to learn XR development skills step-by-step: programming, 3D math, Unity/Unreal, OpenXR, ARKit/ARCore, performance optimization, and how to build a portfolio for AR/VR jobs.
1) Programming fundamentals
Debugging, Git, clean code, and basic architecture.
C# (Unity track)
Components, events, ScriptableObjects.
C++ (Unreal track)
Blueprint + C++ workflow, memory basics.
JavaScript/TypeScript (WebXR track)
Async, modules, browser performance basics.
2) 3D math
Vectors, transforms, quaternions, coordinate spaces.
Real-time rendering basics
Draw calls, textures, lighting, frame timing.
3) XR UX + interaction
Comfort, locomotion, hands/controllers, spatial UI.
Locomotion
Teleport, snap turn, comfort settings.
Interaction patterns
Ray, direct grab, poke UI, haptics.
4) Pick your engine / stack
Unity, Unreal, or WebXR depending on your goal.
Unity fundamentals
Scenes, prefabs, physics, build pipeline.
Unreal fundamentals
Blueprints, actors, packaging, VR template.
WebXR + Three.js
XR sessions, input sources, glTF assets.
5) Platform fundamentals
OpenXR, device constraints, permissions, store rules.
OpenXR concepts
Actions/bindings, spaces, runtimes.
Meta Quest
Standalone performance and submission basics.
ARKit
Planes, anchors, image tracking.
ARCore
Depth, anchors, augmented images.
6) Performance + polish
Hit target FPS, reduce stutter, optimize rendering.
Profiling
CPU vs GPU bottlenecks, overdraw, LODs.
Shaders & VFX
Keep it cheap, especially in stereo.
7) Ship projects + build a portfolio
Publish builds, collect feedback, document your work.
Deployment
Build pipelines, QA, analytics, crash triage.
Portfolio case studies
Short video demos + clear explanations.
Optional specializations
Pick one once you can ship a small XR app end-to-end.
3D Art
Modeling, UVs, PBR, optimization.
Multiplayer
Sync, authority models, latency handling.
Computer Vision / SLAM
Tracking, pose, mapping, spatial understanding.
Hardware
Sensors, optics, inside-out tracking basics.