xtc — a lightweight, modular DAW

xtc is a new, energyXT-inspired digital audio workstation project. It is not a clone and contains no energyXT source code or assets.

Design decisions

Modular engine first: sequencer, instruments, effects, mixers and I/O are nodes in one processing graph.
C core: project model, graph, DSP and audio engine are implemented in C.
FLTK/C++ GUI: C++ is confined to the graphical interface and calls the core through a C API.
Linux first: keep backend-specific details behind an interface.
Small increments: build and test each milestone before adding features.

Current status

This repository is a starter scaffold, not a production DAW. It currently provides:

a small C library/API;
a mono graph model with port validation, cycle rejection and topological ordering;
compiled offline plans with preallocated buffers, sine oscillator, gain, meter and output nodes;
C tests for deterministic rendering, routing, validation and lifecycle;
an optional JACK-compatible mono backend with start/stop, routing and status;
safe control/audio plan handoff and concurrent replacement tests;
an optional FLTK shell with engine controls, view switching and backend status;
architecture, format, GUI, roadmap, and decision documents.

The JACK backend has passed software-loopback testing; physical-device playback is unverified. Recording, MIDI, plugin hosting, project persistence, and the actual sequencer UI are not implemented yet.

Build

Requirements: a C compiler, a C++ compiler, GNU Make, and pkg-config. FLTK is optional for the core and tests.

make
make test

make also builds build/xtc-check, a headless core startup/shutdown check. Use make debug for a separate debug build and test run. See docs/BUILD.md for the inspected toolchain and baseline limits.

Build the optional FLTK GUI if FLTK is installed:

make gui

Run the GUI:

./build/xtc

The GUI opens JACK and offers Play/Stop/Reconnect, backend status and view switching. Play starts the engine in silence; playback content and editors are not implemented. F5 starts, F8 stops, Space toggles, F6 reconnects, and Ctrl+1/2/3 switches views. Ctrl+Q closes the client and window. No physical ports are connected automatically. See GUI documentation. With JACK development files and an existing JACK-compatible server, run the isolated software-loopback test with make test-jack. It connects only test clients. See engine documentation for configuration, routing, ownership and recovery.

Clean generated files:

make clean

Suggested first agent task

Read AGENT.md and docs/ARCHITECTURE.md. Inspect the existing implementation, run make test, and report gaps before adding the next feature. Do not jump directly to plugin hosting or a full sequencer.

License

The project is scaffolded under the MIT License; see LICENSE. Review the licenses of any future dependencies before distribution.

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