# plugdata-team/plugdata

Pure Data as a plugin, with a new GUI

Repository: https://github.com/plugdata-team/plugdata
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/plugdata
Homepage: https://plugdata.org
Language: C
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: pure-data, libpd, juce-framework
Last push: 2026-08-26T20:06:23+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 90/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 73, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1740, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 180, "gap_med": 11, "n_releases_24m": 4}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2314, forks 102 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:36.736898+00:00)

## What it is
plugdata is a free, open-source visual programming environment for audio based on Pure Data, rebuilt with a modern JUCE-based GUI. It runs as a standalone desktop app, as VST3/AU/CLAP/LV2 plugins inside DAWs, on iOS, and can export patches to C/C++ for embedded hardware via the Heavy/hvcc toolchain.

## Use cases
- run Pure Data patches as a plugin inside my DAW
- design synthesizers and audio effects with visual patching
- learn digital audio and creative programming without writing code
- replace Pure Data with a more modern, comfortable GUI
- export Pure Data patches to C++ for embedded hardware like Daisy
- use Max-style objects in a free patching environment
- prototype audio effects and hear results instantly

## When to choose
- you want Pure Data patching inside a DAW as VST3/AU/CLAP/LV2
- you find vanilla Pure Data's GUI dated and want a modern interface
- you want batteries-included libraries like ELSE and Cyclone out of the box
- you need to compile patches to C/C++ for embedded audio hardware
- you want a free, cross-platform visual audio programming environment

## When to avoid
- you need exact compatibility with vanilla Pure Data or specific externals not yet ported
- you require a permissively licensed library, since plugdata is GPL-3.0
- you need a text-based or code-first DSP workflow rather than visual patching
- you depend on Max/MSP proprietary features

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: gui, audio-processing, plugin-system, compiler
- domain: media, education
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: pure-data, visual-programming, daw-plugin, vst3, clap, lv2, audio-plugin, juce, dsp, patching, synth-design, embedded-audio, hvcc, audio, game-development, macos, linux, ios

## Member repositories
- plugdata-team/plugdata (main) score 90

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:36.736898+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:39:27.484089+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/plugdata-team/plugdata (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:36.736898+00:00, sha 98f2a926d0f1)
  - homepage: https://plugdata.org (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:27.585233+00:00, sha 8ce3449ca061)
  - site_page: https://plugdata.org/about.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:27.588670+00:00, sha ed1caf6b23d3)
  - site_page: https://plugdata.org/documentation.html (fetched 2026-08-29T10:19:27.591592+00:00, sha 2aff31364993)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.