# plugin module

## Owned files

- PluginProcessor.h, PluginProcessor.cpp

## Rules

- Keep this the JUCE `AudioProcessor` boundary: APVTS, engine, RAVE, presets and state.
- Declare the full parameter layout in `createParameterLayout()`.
- Use `juce::ScopedNoDenormals` in `processBlock`.
- Guard `getRawParameterValue` and `getParameter` results before dereferencing them.
- Return silently on null or invalid state XML and invalid ValueTrees.
- Use raw `new` only for JUCE-owned objects (`createEditor`, `createPluginFilter`).
- Hold the engine control lock across preset and state changes; preserve parameter IDs and normalized values for saved-project compatibility.
- Factory presets reset sound parameters before applying overrides, while preserving UI scale.
- Save one copy of each custom state section. LFO shape arrays are stored as JSON text inside XML.
- RAVE is an ordinary parameter that enables a render-time boost; it does not rewrite other parameters.

## IF-THEN

- IF state XML is null or invalid THEN return without touching the APVTS.
- IF a parameter is missing from a preset load THEN skip it with an `if (auto* param = ...)` guard.

## Examples

```cpp
// BAD: dereferences a possibly null XML result
auto xml = getXmlFromBinary (data, size);
auto state = juce::ValueTree::fromXml (*xml);
```

```cpp
// GOOD: null guard, silent return
std::unique_ptr<juce::XmlElement> xml (getXmlFromBinary (data, size));
if (xml == nullptr)
    return;
juce::ValueTree state = juce::ValueTree::fromXml (*xml);
if (! state.isValid())
    return;
```

This file overrides /AGENTS.md where they conflict.