Document the special lifetime of clap_event_midi_sysex::buffer

.gitignore

@@ -58,3 +58,5 @@ cmake-build*/
 
 # A place to store stuff and get it git ignored
 ignore/*
+
+.DS_Store

ChangeLog.md

@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+# Changes in 1.2.2
+
+* [thread-check.h](include/clap/ext/thread-check.h): expand the thread-doc to clarify and expand realtime
+* [latency.h](include/clap/ext/latency.h): adjust latency extension requirements
+* [undo.h](include/clap/ext/draft/undo.h): re-design the interface
+  * the plugin interfaces have been separated into 2 independent ones
+  * the plugin interfaces are optional
+  * simplification of the design
+
 # Changes in 1.2.1
 
 ## New draft extensions

include/clap/events.h

@@ -297,11 +297,27 @@ typedef struct clap_event_midi {
    uint8_t  data[3];
 } clap_event_midi_t;
 
+// clap_event_midi_sysex contains a pointer to a sysex contents buffer.
+// The lifetime of this buffer is (from host->plugin) only the process
+// call in which the event is delivered or (from plugin->host) only the
+// duration of a try_push call.
+//
+// Since `clap_output_events.try_push` requires hosts to make a copy of
+// an event, host implementers receiving sysex messages from plugins need
+// to take care to both copy the event (so header, size, etc...) but
+// also memcpy the contents of the sysex pointer to host-owned memory, and
+// not just copy the data pointer.
+//
+// Similarly plugins retaining the sysex outside the lifetime of a single
+// process call must copy the sysex buffer to plugin-owned memory.
+//
+// As a consequence, the data structure pointed to by the sysex buffer
+// must be contiguous and copyable with `memcpy` of `size` bytes.
 typedef struct clap_event_midi_sysex {
    clap_event_header_t header;
 
    uint16_t       port_index;
-   const uint8_t *buffer; // midi buffer
+   const uint8_t *buffer; // midi buffer. See lifetime comment above.
    uint32_t       size;
 } clap_event_midi_sysex_t;
 

include/clap/ext/draft/undo.h

@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "../../plugin.h"
+#include "../../stream.h"
 
-static CLAP_CONSTEXPR const char CLAP_EXT_UNDO[] = "clap.undo/2";
+static CLAP_CONSTEXPR const char CLAP_EXT_UNDO[] = "clap.undo/4";
+static CLAP_CONSTEXPR const char CLAP_EXT_UNDO_CONTEXT[] = "clap.undo_context/4";
+static CLAP_CONSTEXPR const char CLAP_EXT_UNDO_DELTA[] = "clap.undo_delta/4";
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -15,7 +18,7 @@ extern "C" {
 ///
 /// Calling host->undo() or host->redo() is equivalent to clicking undo/redo within the host's GUI.
 ///
-/// If the plugin implements this interface then its undo and redo should be entirely delegated to
+/// If the plugin uses this interface then its undo and redo should be entirely delegated to
 /// the host; clicking in the plugin's UI undo or redo is equivalent to clicking undo or redo in the
 /// host's UI.
 ///
@@ -40,31 +43,32 @@ extern "C" {
 /// history. This simplifies the host implementation, leading to less bugs, a more robust design
 /// and maybe an easier experience for the user because there's a single undo context versus one
 /// for the host and one for each plugin instance.
-
-enum clap_undo_context_flags {
-   // While the host is within a change, it is impossible to perform undo or redo.
-   CLAP_UNDO_IS_WITHIN_CHANGE = 1 << 0,
-};
-
-enum clap_undo_delta_properties_flags {
-   // If not set, then all clap_undo_delta_properties's attributes become irrelevant.
-   // If set, then the plugin will provide deltas in host->change_made().
-   CLAP_UNDO_DELTA_PROPERTIES_HAS_DELTA = 1 << 0,
-
-   // If set, then the delta will be reusable in the future as long as the plugin is
-   // compatible with the given format_version.
-   CLAP_UNDO_DELTA_PROPERTIES_IS_PERSISTENT = 1 << 1,
-};
+///
+/// This extension tries to make it as easy as possible for the plugin to hook into the host undo
+/// and make it efficient when possible by using deltas. The plugin interfaces are all optional, and
+/// the plugin can for a minimal implementation, just use the host interface and call
+/// host->change_made() without providing a delta. This is enough for the host to know that it can
+/// capture a plugin state for the undo step.
 
 typedef struct clap_undo_delta_properties {
-   // Bitmask of clap_undo_delta_properties_flags
-   uint64_t flags;
+   // If true, then the plugin will provide deltas in host->change_made().
+   // If false, then all clap_undo_delta_properties's attributes become irrelevant.
+   bool has_delta;
+
+   // If true, then the deltas can be stored on disk and re-used in the future as long as the plugin
+   // is compatible with the given format_version.
+   //
+   // If false, then format_version must be set to CLAP_INVALID_ID.
+   bool are_deltas_persistent;
 
-   // This represents the delta format version that the plugin is using.
-   uint32_t format_version;
+   // This represents the delta format version that the plugin is currently using.
+   // Use CLAP_INVALID_ID for invalid value.
+   clap_id format_version;
 } clap_undo_delta_properties_t;
 
-typedef struct clap_plugin_undo {
+// Use CLAP_EXT_UNDO_DELTA.
+// This is an optional interface, using deltas is an optimization versus making a state snapshot.
+typedef struct clap_plugin_undo_delta {
    // Asks the plugin the delta properties.
    // [main-thread]
    void(CLAP_ABI *get_delta_properties)(const clap_plugin_t          *plugin,
@@ -76,25 +80,42 @@ typedef struct clap_plugin_undo {
    bool(CLAP_ABI *can_use_delta_format_version)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin,
                                                 clap_id              format_version);
 
-   // Applies synchronously a delta.
+   // Undo using the delta.
    // Returns true on success.
    //
    // [main-thread]
-   bool(CLAP_ABI *apply_delta)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin,
-                               clap_id              format_version,
-                               const void          *delta,
-                               size_t               delta_size);
-
-   // Sets the undo context.
-   // flags: bitmask of clap_undo_context_flags values
-   // names: null terminated string if an redo/undo step exists, null otherwise.
-   // [main-thread]
-   void(CLAP_ABI *set_context_info)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin,
-                                    uint64_t             flags,
-                                    const char          *undo_name,
-                                    const char          *redo_name);
-} clap_plugin_undo_t;
+   bool(CLAP_ABI *undo)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin,
+                        clap_id              format_version,
+                        const void          *delta,
+                        size_t               delta_size);
 
+   // Redo using the delta.
+   // Returns true on success.
+   //
+   // [main-thread]
+   bool(CLAP_ABI *redo)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin,
+                        clap_id              format_version,
+                        const void          *delta,
+                        size_t               delta_size);
+} clap_plugin_undo_delta_t;
+
+// Use CLAP_EXT_UNDO_CONTEXT.
+// This is an optional interface, that the plugin can implement in order to know about
+// the current undo context.
+typedef struct clap_plugin_undo_context {
+   // Indicate if it is currently possible to perform an undo or redo operation.
+   // [main-thread & plugin-subscribed-to-undo-context]
+   void(CLAP_ABI *set_can_undo)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin, bool can_undo);
+   void(CLAP_ABI *set_can_redo)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin, bool can_redo);
+
+   // Sets the name of the next undo or redo step.
+   // name: null terminated string.
+   // [main-thread & plugin-subscribed-to-undo-context]
+   void(CLAP_ABI *set_undo_name)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin, const char *name);
+   void(CLAP_ABI *set_redo_name)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin, const char *name);
+} clap_plugin_undo_context_t;
+
+// Use CLAP_EXT_UNDO.
 typedef struct clap_host_undo {
    // Begins a long running change.
    // The plugin must not call this twice: there must be either a call to cancel_change() or
@@ -112,36 +133,51 @@ typedef struct clap_host_undo {
    //
    // name: mandatory null terminated string describing the change, this is displayed to the user
    //
-   // deltas: optional, they are binary blobs used to perform the undo and redo. When not available
+   // delta: optional, it is a binary blobs used to perform the undo and redo. When not available
    // the host will save the plugin state and use state->load() to perform undo and redo.
+   // The plugin must be able to perform a redo operation using the delta, though the undo operation
+   // is only possible if delta_can_undo is true.
    //
    // Note: the provided delta may be used for incremental state saving and crash recovery. The
    // plugin can indicate a format version id and the validity lifetime for the binary blobs.
    // The host can use these to verify the compatibility before applying the delta.
    // If the plugin is unable to use a delta, a notification should be provided to the user and
-   // the crash recovery should perform a best effort job, at least restoring the latest saved state.
+   // the crash recovery should perform a best effort job, at least restoring the latest saved
+   // state.
    //
    // Special case: for objects with shared and synchronized state, changes shouldn't be reported
    // as the host already knows about it.
    // For example, plugin parameter changes shouldn't produce a call to change_made().
    //
+   // Note: if the plugin asked for this interface, then host_state->mark_dirty() will not create an
+   // implicit undo step.
+   //
+   // Note: if the plugin did load a preset or did something that leads to a large delta,
+   // it may consider not producing a delta (pass null) and let the host make a state snapshot
+   // instead.
+   //
+   // Note: if a plugin is producing a lot of changes within a small amount of time, the host
+   // may merge them into a single undo step.
+   //
    // [main-thread]
    void(CLAP_ABI *change_made)(const clap_host_t *host,
                                const char        *name,
-                               const void        *redo_delta,
-                               size_t             redo_delta_size,
-                               const void        *undo_delta,
-                               size_t             undo_delta_size);
-
-   // Asks the host to perform the next undo step.
-   // This operation may be asynchronous.
-   // [main-thread]
-   void(CLAP_ABI *undo)(const clap_host_t *host);
+                               const void        *delta,
+                               size_t             delta_size,
+                               bool               delta_can_undo);
 
-   // Asks the host to perform the next redo step.
-   // This operation may be asynchronous.
+   // Asks the host to perform the next undo or redo step.
+   //
+   // Note: this maybe a complex and asynchronous operation, which may complete after
+   // this function returns.
+   //
+   // Note: the host may ignore this request if there is no undo/redo step to perform,
+   // or if the host is unable to perform undo/redo at the time (eg: a long running
+   // change is going on).
+   //
    // [main-thread]
-   void(CLAP_ABI *redo)(const clap_host_t *host);
+   void(CLAP_ABI *request_undo)(const clap_host_t *host);
+   void(CLAP_ABI *request_redo)(const clap_host_t *host);
 
    // Subscribes to or unsubscribes from undo context info.
    //
@@ -154,8 +190,10 @@ typedef struct clap_host_undo {
    //
    // is_subscribed: set to true to receive context info
    //
+   // It is mandatory for the plugin to implement CLAP_EXT_UNDO_CONTEXT when using this method.
+   //
    // [main-thread]
-   void(CLAP_ABI *set_context_info_subscription)(const clap_host_t *host, bool is_subscribed);
+   void(CLAP_ABI *set_wants_context_updates)(const clap_host_t *host, bool is_subscribed);
 } clap_host_undo_t;
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus

include/clap/ext/latency.h

@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ extern "C" {
 
 typedef struct clap_plugin_latency {
    // Returns the plugin latency in samples.
-   // [main-thread & active]
+   // [main-thread & (being-activated | active)]
    uint32_t(CLAP_ABI *get)(const clap_plugin_t *plugin);
 } clap_plugin_latency_t;
 
 typedef struct clap_host_latency {
    // Tell the host that the latency changed.
-   // The latency is only allowed to change if the plugin is deactivated.
+   // The latency is only allowed to change during plugin->activate.
    // If the plugin is activated, call host->request_restart()
-   // [main-thread]
+   // [main-thread & being-activated]
    void(CLAP_ABI *changed)(const clap_host_t *host);
 } clap_host_latency_t;
 

include/clap/ext/thread-check.h

@@ -17,23 +17,44 @@ extern "C" {
 ///    This will be the same OS thread throughout the lifetime of the plug-in.
 ///    On macOS and Windows, this must be the thread on which gui and timer events are received
 ///    (i.e., the main thread of the program).
-///    It isn't a realtime thread, yet this thread needs to respond fast enough to user interaction,
-///    so it is recommended to run long and expensive tasks such as preset indexing or asset loading
-///    in dedicated background threads.
+///    It isn't a realtime thread, yet this thread needs to respond fast enough to allow responsive
+///    user interaction, so it is strongly recommended plugins run long,and expensive or blocking
+///    tasks such as preset indexing or asset loading in dedicated background threads started by the
+///    plugin.
 ///
 /// audio-thread:
-///    This thread is used for realtime audio processing. Its execution should be as deterministic
-///    as possible to meet the audio interface's deadline (can be <1ms). In other words, there is a
-///    known set of operations that should be avoided: malloc() and free(), mutexes (spin mutexes
-///    are worse), I/O, waiting, ...
-///    The audio-thread is something symbolic, there isn't one OS thread that remains the
-///    audio-thread for the plugin lifetime. As you may guess, the host is likely to have a
+///    This thread can be used for realtime audio processing. Its execution should be as
+///    deterministic as possible to meet the audio interface's deadline (can be <1ms). There are a
+///    known set of operations that should be avoided: malloc() and free(), contended locks and
+///    mutexes, I/O, waiting, and so forth.
+///
+///    The audio-thread is symbolic, there isn't one OS thread that remains the
+///    audio-thread for the plugin lifetime. A host is may opt to have a
 ///    thread pool and the plugin.process() call may be scheduled on different OS threads over time.
-///    The most important thing is that there can't be two audio-threads at the same time. All the
-///    functions marked with [audio-thread] **ARE NOT CONCURRENT**. The host may mark any OS thread,
+///    However, the host must guarantee that single plugin instance will not be two audio-threads
+///    at the same time.
+///
+///    Functions marked with [audio-thread] **ARE NOT CONCURRENT**. The host may mark any OS thread,
 ///    including the main-thread as the audio-thread, as long as it can guarantee that only one OS
-///    thread is the audio-thread at a time. The audio-thread can be seen as a concurrency guard for
-///    all functions marked with [audio-thread].
+///    thread is the audio-thread at a time in a plugin instance. The audio-thread can be seen as a
+///    concurrency guard for all functions marked with [audio-thread].
+///
+///    The real-time constraint on the [audio-thread] interacts closely with the render extension.
+///    If a plugin doesn't implement render, then that plugin must have all [audio-thread] functions
+///    meet the real time standard. If the plugin does implement render, and returns true when
+///    render mode is set to real-time or if the plugin advertises a hard realtime requirement, it
+///    must implement realtime constraints. Hosts also provide functions marked [audio-thread].
+///    These can be safely called by a plugin in the audio thread. Therefore hosts must either (1)
+///    implement those functions meeting the real-time constraints or (2) not process plugins which
+///    advertise a hard realtime constraint or don't implement the render extension. Hosts which
+///    provide [audio-thread] functions outside these conditions may experience inconsistent or
+///    inaccurate rendering.
+///
+///  Clap also tags some functions as [thread-safe]. Functions tagged as [thread-safe] can be called
+///  from any thread unless explicitly counter-indicated (for instance [thread-safe, !audio-thread])
+///  and may be called concurrently. Since a [thread-safe] function may be called from the
+///  [audio-thread] unless explicitly counter-indicated, it must also meet the realtime constraints
+///  as describes above.
 
 // This interface is useful to do runtime checks and make
 // sure that the functions are called on the correct threads.

include/clap/host.h

@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ typedef struct clap_host {
    void(CLAP_ABI *request_process)(const struct clap_host *host);
 
    // Request the host to schedule a call to plugin->on_main_thread(plugin) on the main thread.
+   // This callback should be called as soon as practicable, usually in the host application's next
+   // available main thread time slice. Typically callbacks occur withink 33ms / 30hz.
+   // Despite this guidance, plugins should not make assumptions about the exactness of timing for
+   // a main thread callback, but hosts should endeavour to be prompt. For example, in high load situations
+   // the environment may starve the gui/main thread in favor of audio processing, leading to substantially
+   // longer latencies for the callback than the indicative times given here.
    // [thread-safe]
    void(CLAP_ABI *request_callback)(const struct clap_host *host);
 } clap_host_t;

include/clap/version.h

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ typedef struct clap_version {
 
 #define CLAP_VERSION_MAJOR 1
 #define CLAP_VERSION_MINOR 2
-#define CLAP_VERSION_REVISION 1
+#define CLAP_VERSION_REVISION 2
 
 #define CLAP_VERSION_INIT                                                                          \
    { (uint32_t)CLAP_VERSION_MAJOR, (uint32_t)CLAP_VERSION_MINOR, (uint32_t)CLAP_VERSION_REVISION }