Magic Music Visuals

Would it be possible to store shader code in image metadata (XMP for example), thereby allowing users to browse shaders visually, select an image and have Magic extract the shader code?

I think it's possible, but every shader would have to be converted to that format. So even if it were done for the "built-in" Magic shaders, any other ones downloaded elsewhere (by users) wouldn't have that feature.

Perhaps a better method would be to automatically create a visual snapshot as a separate image? Then there could be a browser which displays the images and retains associations (by similar filename) to the original shader.

Perhaps consider the browser accommodating animated GIFs or even short MP4s?

I had thought about making a little tool to:

run the shader for x frames and benchmark it, average the frames and give a performance rating.
screenshots
tagging/categorisation
etc etc

so I could select stuff like 'LED friendly, high performance, tunnels'.

I'll get around to it one day if Eric doesn't beat me to it

I'll get around to it one day if Eric doesn't beat me to it

Go for it!