diff -r 3954c551ded3 -r b7954818a6b7 src/scene.c
--- a/src/scene.c	Fri Apr 12 22:23:31 2024 +0200
+++ b/src/scene.c	Fri Apr 12 22:43:00 2024 +0200
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "ascension/scene.h"
 
 #include "ascension/context.h"
+#include "ascension/utils.h"
 
 #include <cx/linked_list.h>
 #include <cx/array_list.h>
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@
         node->depth = iter.depth;
 
         // skip hidden nodes (and all their children)
-        if (node->hidden) {
+        if (asc_test_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_HIDDEN)) {
             cxTreeVisitorContinue(iter);
         }
 
@@ -97,16 +98,15 @@
         }
 
         // TODO: implement culling
-        // TODO: implement a hidden flag (requires UCX tree-continue function)
 
         // check if geometry needs update
-        if (node->need_graphics_update) {
+        if (asc_test_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_GRAPHICS)) {
             assert(node->update_func != NULL);
-            node->need_graphics_update = false;
+            asc_clear_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_GRAPHICS);
             node->update_func(node);
         }
-        if (node->need_transform_update) {
-            node->need_transform_update = false;
+        if (asc_test_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_TRANSFORM)) {
+            asc_test_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_TRANSFORM);
             asc_transform_from_parts(
                     node->transform,
                     node->position,
@@ -242,12 +242,21 @@
     }
 }
 
-void asc_update_transform(AscSceneNode *node) {
-    if (node->need_transform_update) return;
+void asc_node_update(AscSceneNode *node) {
+    asc_set_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_GRAPHICS);
+}
+
+void asc_node_update_transform(AscSceneNode *node) {
+    // fast skip if node is already marked
+    if (asc_test_flag(node->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_TRANSFORM)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     CxTreeIterator iter = asc_scene_node_iterator(node, false);
     cx_foreach(AscSceneNode*, n, iter) {
-        // TODO: break/continue when subtree is already marked for update
-        n->need_transform_update = true;
+        if (asc_test_flag(n->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_TRANSFORM)) {
+            cxTreeIteratorContinue(iter);
+        }
+        asc_set_flag(n->flags, ASC_SCENE_NODE_UPDATE_TRANSFORM);
     }
 }