# plugin module

## Related source files

This directory contains guidance; the implementation remains in
`../PluginProcessor.h` and `../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`).
- Prefer const accessors over the public `parameters`, `engine` and `rave` fields for new code.

## 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 /AGENT.md where they conflict.