vvvv-skills

Helps set up C# library projects that provide nodes to vvvv gamma — project directory structure, Initialization.cs with AssemblyInitializer, service registration via RegisterService, IResourceProvider factories, ImportAsIs / ImportNamespace / ImportType selection, category organization, .csproj setup, and dynamic node factories via RegisterNodeFactory. Also covers contributing changes to an existing/upstream vvvv library — fork → branch → PR workflow, editable source packages (--package-repositories / --editable-packages), and the .vl-document diff problem. Use when creating a new vvvv library, VL package, NuGet package for vvvv, deciding which import attribute to use, organizing categories, controlling which public types become nodes, registering services or node factories, setting up the project structure, or contributing a fix/feature/PR to a library you don't own (e.g. VL.StandardLibs). Trigger when the user says 'create a package', 'make a library', 'distribute nodes', 'organize categories', 'hide intern

Helps write C# node classes for vvvv gamma — the [ProcessNode] lifecycle pattern, Update() method, out parameters, pin configuration, change detection, stateless operation nodes, the public-API import model, and service consumption via NodeContext (IFrameClock, Game access, logging). Use when writing a node class, adding pins, implementing change detection, accessing services in node constructors, creating stateless utility methods, or deciding whether a class needs [ProcessNode] at all. Requires the assembly to have one of [assembly: ImportAsIs] / [assembly: ImportNamespace] / [assembly: ImportType] set (see vvvv-node-libraries).

Helps work with vvvv gamma's Channel system from C# — IChannelHub, public channels, [CanBePublished] attributes, hierarchical data propagation, channel subscriptions, bang channels, and spread sub-channels. Use when reading or writing public channels from C# nodes, publishing .NET types as channels, working with IChannelHub, subscribing to channel changes, managing hierarchical channel state, or implementing reactive/observable data flow. Trigger for any mention of IChannel, IChannelHub, reactive binding, observable state, two-way data binding, or TryGetChannel in a vvvv context.

Helps with .NET integration in vvvv gamma — NuGet packages, library references, .csproj project configuration, the [assembly: ImportAsIs] attribute, vector type interop, and async patterns. Use when adding NuGet packages, configuring build settings, referencing external .NET libraries, setting up the ImportAsIs assembly attribute, working with System.Numerics/Stride type conversions, or when nodes aren't appearing in the node browser due to missing assembly configuration.

Helps write SDSL shaders for Stride and vvvv gamma — TextureFX, shader mixins, compute shaders, and ShaderFX composition. SDSL is a superset of HLSL, so use this skill when writing or debugging .sdsl shader files, GPU shaders, visual effects, HLSL code for vvvv, working with the Stride rendering pipeline, composing shader mixins, or any GPU/compute work. Trigger even if the user says 'HLSL', 'shader', 'GPU effect', 'render pass', or 'compute' in a vvvv context.

Helps write code using vvvv gamma's Spread<T> immutable collection type and SpreadBuilder<T>. Use when working with Spreads, SpreadBuilder, collections, arrays, iteration, mapping, filtering, zipping, accumulating, or converting between Span and Spread. Trigger whenever the user writes collection-processing C# code in vvvv — even if they say 'list', 'array', or 'IEnumerable' instead of Spread, this skill likely applies.

Diagnoses and fixes common vvvv gamma errors in C# nodes, SDSL shaders, and runtime behavior. Use when encountering errors, exceptions, crashes, red nodes, shader compilation failures, missing nodes in the browser, performance issues, or unexpected behavior.

Set up debugging for vvvv gamma C# node projects -- generate VS Code launch.json and tasks.json configurations, attach debugger to running vvvv, configure Visual Studio debug profiles, and use debugging best practices. Use when setting up a debugger for vvvv, creating launch configurations, attaching to vvvv process, or troubleshooting breakpoints in C# nodes. Supports multiple launch configs for different test scenarios/patches.

Covers launching vvvv gamma from the command line or programmatically -- normal startup, opening specific .vl patches, command-line arguments, package repositories, and key filesystem paths (install directory, user data, sketches, exports, packages). Use when starting vvvv, configuring launch arguments, setting up package repositories, or finding vvvv's data directories.

Set up and run automated tests for vvvv gamma packages and C# nodes -- VL.TestFramework with NUnit for library/package authors (CI-ready), test .vl patches with assertion nodes, and lightweight agent-driven test workflows. Use when writing tests for vvvv packages, setting up test infrastructure, creating test patches, running automated compilation checks, or integrating vvvv tests into CI/CD.

Describes the .vl XML file format used by vvvv gamma — document structure, element hierarchy, ID system (base62 GUIDs), NodeReference/Choice patterns, Pins, Pads (IOBoxes), Links, ProcessDefinition/Fragment lifecycle, regions (If/ForEach/Cache), type definitions, TypeAnnotations, and property serialization. Use when generating, parsing, or modifying .vl files programmatically, or when understanding the structure of vvvv patches at the XML level.

Helps create vvvv gamma editor extensions — .HDE.vl file naming, Command node registration with keyboard shortcuts, SkiaWindow/SkiaWindowTopMost window types, docking with WindowFactory, and API access to hovered/selected nodes via VL.Lang Session nodes. Use when building editor plugins, custom tooling windows, or automating editor workflows.

Explains vvvv gamma core concepts — data types, frame-based execution model, pins, pads, links, node browser, live compilation (source project vs binary reference workflows), .vl document structure, file types (.vl/.sdsl/.cs/.csproj), ecosystem overview, and AppHost runtime detection. Use when the user asks about vvvv basics, how vvvv works, the live reload model, when to patch vs code, or needs an overview of the visual programming environment.

Explains vvvv gamma visual programming patterns — dataflow, node connections, regions (ForEach/If/Switch/Repeat/Accumulator), channels for reactive data flow, event handling (Bang/Toggle/FrameDelay/Changed), patch organization, and common anti-patterns (circular dependencies, polling vs reacting, ignoring Nil). Use when the user asks about patching best practices, dataflow patterns, event handling, or how to structure visual programs.