1 files changed, 24 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index a59cf8b..c813278 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,30 @@
 #include "core/application.h"
 
-int main()
+#include <filesystem>
+
+// every asset path is relative to the repo root, but a double-clicked exe (or a
+// ./bin/<cfg>/donut from elsewhere) starts wherever the launcher put it. walk up
+// from `start` until assets/shaders shows up and run from there.
+static auto chdir_to_project_root(std::filesystem::path start) -> bool
+{
+    namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+    std::error_code ec;
+    for (fs::path p = start; !p.empty(); p = p.parent_path())
+    {
+        if (fs::exists(p / "assets" / "shaders", ec)) { fs::current_path(p, ec); return !ec; }
+        if (p == p.root_path()) break;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+int main(int /*argc*/, char** argv)
 {
+    // the cwd first (the normal case), then wherever the exe itself lives. if both
+    // miss, the loaders complain with the cwd in the message.
+    std::error_code ec;
+    if (!chdir_to_project_root(std::filesystem::current_path(ec)) && argv && argv[0])
+        chdir_to_project_root(std::filesystem::absolute(argv[0], ec).parent_path());
     Donut::Application* app = new Donut::Application("Donut Engine - Black Hole Simulation", 1280, 720);
     app->run();
     delete app;
-}
-\ No newline at end of file
+}