JUCE Plugin Template

A compact starting point for audio-effect plugins built with JUCE, CMake, and GoogleTest. It demonstrates an AudioProcessorValueTreeState parameter, realtime-safe parameter access, state persistence, and a standard JUCE editor attachment.

Create a Plugin

Before shipping a derived plugin, update the project metadata in CMakeLists.txt:

• PROJECT_NAME, PRODUCT_NAME, and PRODUCT_NAME_WITHOUT_VERSION
• COMPANY_NAME and BUNDLE_ID
• MANUFACTURER_CODE and the unique four-character PLUGIN_CODE

AP01 is only a placeholder. Reusing it for multiple plugins causes host-identification conflicts.

Build and Test

Install CMake, Ninja, a C++23 compiler, and the platform SDK required by JUCE. Configure, build, and test the default Clang preset from the repository root:

cmake --preset Clang
cmake --build --preset Clang
ctest --preset Clang

The first configure downloads JUCE and GoogleTest into the ignored libs/ directory.

Starter Architecture

PluginParameters.h defines the versioned gain parameter. PluginProcessor caches its raw atomic value during construction, loads it once per block, and uses a gain ramp to avoid steps. PluginEditor binds a rotary slider to the same parameter with SliderAttachment.

Add DSP state in prepareToPlay(), reset it in releaseResources(), and keep processBlock() allocation-free and lock-free. Extend the tests whenever a parameter or DSP stage is added.