reasampler/PLAN.md

# PLAN.md — ReaSampler milestone roadmap

Living milestone roadmap for ReaSampler. Derived from CONTEXT.md's 11-step build
order; CONTEXT.md remains the authoritative spec — this file is the tickable
checklist, not a re-statement of the spec. When a point lands, doc-keeper removes
it here and appends it to `COMPLETED.md`.

**Conventions**
- One checkbox `- [ ]` = one discrete, independently-landable point.
- Each milestone opens with a **Goal** (one line) and a **Verify** criterion
  (the acceptance gate; precision invariants pulled in where one applies).
- Verify-in-DAW points require a manual REAPER run; pure points are gated by CTest.
- "See CONTEXT.md §…" points at the authoritative detail — do not duplicate it here.

---

## Milestone 9 — slots (MPC-style)

> **Explicitly deferred (Daniel, 2026-07-26) — not silently dropped. Can be picked
> up later if wanted.** An extra, not scheduled work.

**Goal:** "Capture to slot N" / "insert slot N", MIDI-bindable. CONTEXT.md
Build order 9.
**Verify (in DAW):** Slot capture and slot insert fire from MIDI bindings; slot
state persists via the index.

- [ ] Slot model + slot↔sample assignment.
- [ ] "Capture to slot N" / "insert slot N" actions, MIDI-bindable.

## Open questions to resolve during build
Carried from CONTEXT.md §Open questions — keep visible until each is closed by a
landed milestone.

- **`parseInt` narrowing hardening:** `src/bank_model.cpp` `parseInt` casts
  `int64_t → int` via `static_cast` without a range check; integers that fit
  in int64 but exceed `INT_MAX` are implementation-defined. Hardening candidate
  — add bounds check before the cast when integer-field validation is in scope.
- **Capture send/routing isolation (TODO):** The FX-scope capture neutralizes out-of-scope FX, gain, and pan — but NOT aux **sends**. So a downstream coloring send (e.g. a folder → reverb-track send) still routes and blends the reverb into an item/track capture, past the intended isolation point. A true item-level capture should be taken at the isolated graph point — the target scope's output before out-of-scope track FX/gain/pan **and** before out-of-scope aux/parallel sends. The hard part: distinguish **source routing that must be preserved** (e.g. a MIDI send T1→T2 where T2's synth is where a MIDI item's audio is actually produced — the "item level" for that MIDI item is T2's synth output) from **coloring sends that must be excluded** (folder→reverb). Repro: folder F1; T1 (MIDI) sends MIDI to T2 (synth); T1+T2 → F1; F1 sends to reverb T3; capturing the MIDI item on T1 currently includes the reverb, should be isolated to T2's synth output pre-F1 with the MIDI send preserved and the reverb send excluded. Likely approach: snapshot + mute out-of-scope tracks' aux sends during the render while preserving the main/source signal path — needs a rule for which sends are load-bearing.

---

# Phase D2 — Two-canvas (item-level mode projection; additive to D1)

> **Design View sub-phase.** Extends D1's track-level mode projection to **item
> level** via REAPER 7 fixed lanes: on a track present in both stances, each mode
> owns a fixed lane — the active mode's lane shows and plays, the inactive mode's is
> hidden and silenced — so a Design take and an Arrange take can share the same
> track and time position without colliding on the view. Nothing in D1 changes.
> Runtime floor rises to **REAPER 7** for this sub-phase (no version-gate branch;
> below v7 it is simply unavailable). Authoritative spec: **CONTEXT.md §Two-canvas
> sub-phase (Phase D2 / Phase E)** and the surrounding §Design View — additive phase
> spec. Product framing: `docs/product/design-view.md` §Two-canvas direction. When a
> point lands, doc-keeper moves it to `COMPLETED.md`.
>
> **D2-W1 (pure lane extension), D2-W2 (shell: lane application + new-content
> detection), D2-W3-A (lane minting + item→lane assignment + persist round-trip),
> and D2-W3-B (item-level mode actions + W3-A polish) have all landed** — see
> `COMPLETED.md`. **Phase D2 is functionally complete.**
>
> **Deferred:** panel UI indicator for per-track lane/mode state (a per-track
> lane-split marker). The mode switch already shows the active mode; no natural
> cheap home for a per-track indicator was found in the bank panel. Explicitly
> deferred — not silently dropped. Can be picked up later if wanted.

---

# Phase S — MIDI-playback instrument (native VST3 sampler; a second build artifact)

> **New pillar, own lettered namespace, and — uniquely — a second build artifact.**
> Every prior phase ships inside the one `reaper_reasampler` extension binary; Phase
> S does not. A REAPER extension *cannot* be a MIDI-triggered instrument (it is not a
> node in any track's signal chain), so the instrument is a **separate native VST3
> plugin** the user instantiates on an instrument track, reading ReaSampler's banks
> and playing them MIDI-triggered. Namespaced **`S` (Sampler)** rather than "D"
> (Daniel's call — "D" collides with Design View). Authoritative spec: **CONTEXT.md
> §MIDI-playback instrument — additive phase spec (Phase S)**. Product framing +
> the settled decision record (D1/D5/D6 locked, D-A..D-D settled 2026-07-26):
> `docs/product/midi-playback.md`. When a point lands, doc-keeper moves it to
> `COMPLETED.md`.
>
> **Locked (see `docs/product/midi-playback.md` §4):** D1 native VST3 (not JSFX);
> D5 Windows-only / VST3-only / REAPER-only; D6 two products, tightly integrated via
> the VST-host bridge (live `"reasampler"` ext-state, project-aware). **Settled forks
> (2026-07-26):** D-A bare Steinberg VST3 SDK + LICE editor (no JUCE); D-B split seam
> with root-note + loop-points added to `Sample` *now*; D-C Tier 0–1 committed (Tier 2
> held, Tier 3 optional-forever); D-D embedded TCP/MCP UI **scheduled** as a later
> in-phase point (after the main editor exists).
>
> **Second build artifact (load-bearing, flagged up front):** Phase S produces a
> *separate* VST3 binary alongside `reaper_reasampler`. The Steinberg VST3 SDK is a
> **new vendored dependency** (vendor at the spike — an implementation-time
> prerequisite, not done here), and CMake grows a second target with Windows VST3
> module-export/bundle wiring. Both are established by S1 so nothing downstream leans
> on an unbuilt target.

## S1 — opening spike: VST3 skeleton + `IPlugView`↔LICE bridge (proof + second target)
**Goal:** Stand up the second build artifact and prove the two least-trodden
unknowns before the engine build leans on them: (1) a silent-but-loading VST3
`SingleComponentEffect` skeleton that REAPER hosts, and (2) an `IPlugView` that hosts
a LICE-drawn surface. Converts §1a's experienced-estimates (Windows module-export
names, factory-macro spellings, exact bridge marshalling) into verified fact.
CONTEXT.md §Phase S (build shape, module architecture, API surface).
**Prerequisite (implementation-time):** vendor the Steinberg VST3 SDK (a new
submodule/dependency alongside `reaper-sdk` / `WDL`); confirm whether VSTGUI is
bundled (moot for D-A but resolves the noted fallback rung).
**Verify (in DAW):** the VST3 skeleton loads in REAPER on an instrument track,
enumerates via `GetPluginFactory`, sets up an event-in + audio-out bus, and runs an
empty `process` without error; an `IPlugView` opens and draws a LICE surface with a
working hit-test; the VST-host bridge resolves `GetProjExtState` by name and reads a
known `"reasampler"` value. Nothing plays yet — this is the loading/drawing/bridge
proof.

- [ ] CMake second target: a separate VST3 module artifact built alongside
  `reaper_reasampler` (Windows VST3 export/bundle wiring; `GetPluginFactory` +
  `InitDll`/`ExitDll` — **verify exact export names against the vendored SDK**).
- [ ] `SingleComponentEffect` skeleton: factory + class registration, `initialize`
  declaring an event-input bus + an audio-output bus (no audio input),
  `setupProcessing`, `setActive`, empty `process`. Loads silently in REAPER.
- [ ] `IPlugView`↔LICE bridge spike: open a plugin editor window hosting a LICE-drawn
  surface (window creation/sizing, host→draw/hit-test event routing), reusing the
  `bank_panel` LICE/SWELL competence. **The decision's one real unknown — prove it
  here.** (VSTGUI is the noted fallback only if this proves gnarlier than the panel
  work suggests.)
- [ ] Bridge read spike: resolve `GetProjExtState`/`EnumProjExtState` by name over the
  host callback (`hostcb` opcode `0xdeadf00d`), fetch host project context
  (`0xdeadf00e`), and read a known `"reasampler"` ext-state value. **Verify opcodes +
  marshalling against `reaper_plugin.h` / `video_processor.h` /
  `reaper_plugin_functions.h`.**

## S2 — `Sample` intrinsic fields (root note + loop points; in the *extension*)
**Goal:** Add the two bank-intrinsic seam fields to `Sample` — **root note** (MIDI
note the sample was recorded at; distinct from the existing optional *musical key*)
and **loop points** (sustain-loop start/end, sample-accurate, zero-crossing-aware) —
as an additive field extension with JSON round-trip, populated at/after capture. This
touches the **extension** codebase, is independently shippable, and lands early to
close the backfill cliff before the instrument consumes the fields. CONTEXT.md
§Phase S (seam fields, D-B). **Same additive shape as `provenance` (M1).**
**Verify:** CTest green. Round-trip lossless across the new fields; pre-existing
samples (no root note / loop points) deserialize with clean defaults (no loss, no
migration break); capture populates root note where derivable and loop points where
set; relative-paths-only unaffected; `BankIndex` behavior unchanged (purely
additive).
**Depends on:** nothing in Phase S (extension-only; can land before or in parallel
with S1).

- [ ] Add `rootNote` (optional MIDI note) + `loopStart`/`loopEnd` (optional
  sample-accurate loop points) to `Sample`; JSON serialize/deserialize with clean
  defaults for samples lacking them (additive, backward-compatible — mirror of how
  `provenance` was added).
- [ ] Populate the fields on capture where derivable (root note) / settable (loop
  points); leave them cleanly empty otherwise. No existing `Sample` field changes.
- [ ] Tests: full round-trip lossless including the new fields; a legacy `Sample`
  JSON (no new fields) parses with defaults and re-serializes without loss; additive
  invariant (no change to existing fields, dedup, tier, or `BankIndex` behavior).

## S3 — pure sampler core (voice engine / envelope / keymap / repitch)
**Goal:** The REAPER-free **and** VST3-free sampler core — voice allocation/polyphony,
amplitude envelope (ADSR), key→sample and velocity→sample mapping (the keymap),
repitch/interpolation from root note, keymap resolution — unit-tested in CTest against
known signals. **The heart of the phase (D3); the mirror of
`bank_model`/`peaks`/`view_mode_model`/`bank_book`; test it hard.** The core is
invariant under the build-shape choice — no VST3 or REAPER type at its boundary.
CONTEXT.md §Phase S (pure core, module architecture).
**Verify:** CTest green. Voice allocation is correct under polyphony (note-on/off,
voice stealing where bounded); ADSR shape asserted against a known signal (mirror of
`peaks`); repitch from root note produces the expected pitch ratio; keymap resolution
maps a (note, velocity) to the correct sample/zone; the core takes and returns only
plain data (no VST3/REAPER types) — enforced by the test target linking neither SDK.
**Depends on:** S2 (consumes `rootNote` / loop points as core inputs).

- [ ] Voice engine: polyphonic voice allocation (note-on/off, bounded voice stealing),
  per-voice state, mono-and-basic-polyphony sufficient for Tier 0.
- [ ] Amplitude envelope (ADSR) math — asserted against a known signal.
- [ ] Repitch/interpolation from root note (chromatic pitch ratio across the
  keyboard); loop-point-aware sustain for held notes.
- [ ] Keymap model + resolution: key ranges/zones (Tier-1 shape) and the
  (note, velocity) → sample/zone query; Tier-0 chromatic-from-single-root as the
  degenerate case.
- [ ] Tests: voice allocation under polyphony + stealing; ADSR envelope shape;
  repitch pitch-ratio correctness; keymap resolution (single-root chromatic + zoned);
  core boundary is plain-data-only (no VST3/REAPER types).

## S4 — Tier 0: "the bank plays" (single sample, chromatic)
**Goal:** The honest MVP — one bank sample mapped chromatically across the keyboard
from its root note, basic polyphony, a simple amp envelope, velocity→volume. Wire the
S3 core into the S1 VST3 shell over the live-state seam (bridge-read bank + audio via
the M4 project-relative path machinery). Editor deferrable behind a parameters-only
default view. CONTEXT.md §Phase S (Tier 0, seams). **Delivers the core promise.**
**Verify (in DAW):** on an instrument track, the VST3 plays a chosen bank sample
MIDI-triggered, repitched chromatically from its root note, with basic polyphony,
an amp envelope, and velocity→volume; it reads the live `"reasampler"` bank via the
bridge and resolves the WAV audio the same project-relative way `persist` does;
following the active project works; it never captures and never inserts into the
arrange (read-only over the bank).
**Depends on:** S1, S2, S3.

- [ ] VST3 `process` marshalling: read MIDI note-on/off/velocity off the event bus,
  drive the S3 core, write per-voice audio to the output bus.
- [ ] Live-state seam: read the bank index + selected sample's root note from
  `"reasampler"` ext-state via the bridge; resolve the WAV audio path the M4
  project-relative way (shared convention with `persist`, not re-implemented).
- [ ] Sample selection UI (minimal, in the `IPlugView` LICE editor or a
  parameters-only default view): choose which bank sample this instance plays.
- [ ] Tier-0 playback: chromatic-from-root, basic polyphony, amp envelope,
  velocity→volume — plays in REAPER's routing/record/render path like any VSTi.

## S5 — Tier 1: "a keymap" (zoned multisamples, per-sample root notes)
**Goal:** Multiple bank samples zoned across the keyboard (key ranges), each with its
own root note — a captured *kit* (one-shots) or a *multisampled instrument* (same
instrument sampled at several pitches) plays correctly. One sample per key-region.
CONTEXT.md §Phase S (Tier 1). **Where the root-note + key-range seam fields earn
their place.**
**Verify (in DAW):** a keymap of several bank samples plays correctly zoned across
the keyboard, each repitched from its own root note within its range; a captured kit
and a multisampled instrument both play as expected; the keymap is authored in the
instrument (performance map) while root notes come from the bank intrinsics (S2);
editing the keymap does not touch the bank.
**Depends on:** S4.

- [ ] Keymap editor in the `IPlugView` LICE editor: assign bank samples to key ranges
  (low/high note per sample), each with its own root note (from S2 intrinsics,
  overridable in the performance map).
- [ ] Tier-1 playback: zoned resolution — a note picks its zone's sample and repitches
  from that sample's root note; one sample per key-region.
- [ ] Performance-map persistence: the keymap (zones, per-sample assignment) is the
  instrument's own state — held in the instrument (read/written over the live
  `"reasampler"` seam per D-B's data-ownership split), never written back as a bank
  intrinsic.

## S6 — embedded TCP/MCP UI (D-D — scheduled in-phase, after the editor)
**Goal:** Render a compact keymap/level strip **inline in the track/mixer control
panel** via `reaper_plugin_fx_embed.h` (`IReaperUIEmbedInterface`) — the same
Cockos surface REAPER's own embedded FX use — so the instrument draws inline, not only
in its own window. Composes with the S1/S5 LICE editor path (same LICE-class drawing).
**Scheduled, not deferred (D-D settled 2026-07-26):** a real later point, sequenced
last because it is polish over a Tier-0 need — but on the roadmap. CONTEXT.md §Phase S
(embedded UI, D-D).
**Verify (in DAW):** the instrument draws a compact inline strip in the TCP/MCP (not
only its own editor window); the inline surface reflects and (where offered) edits the
keymap/levels; the embed lifecycle is clean (open/close/resize); the same LICE drawing
as the main editor is reused.
**Depends on:** S5 (composes over the existing LICE editor). **Must-verify before
build:** the `IReaperUIEmbedInterface` contract + embed message/lifecycle against
`vendor/reaper-sdk/sdk/reaper_plugin_fx_embed.h`.

- [ ] Implement `IReaperUIEmbedInterface` on the VST3; draw a compact keymap/level
  strip inline in the TCP/MCP using the same LICE surface as the editor.
- [ ] Embed lifecycle (open/close/resize/hit-test inline) handled cleanly; reflects
  the live keymap/levels.

## Phase S — held and optional-forever (noted, not specified)
- **Tier 2 — "expressive" (HELD).** Velocity layers, round-robin (anti-machine-gun),
  full ADSR, per-sample tuning/gain trim, sustain loops. The next depth increment once
  Tier 0–1 proves the instrument belongs — **its points are not drawn up here.**
- **Tier 3 — "instrument polish" (optional-forever).** Filters, filter/pitch
  envelopes, LFOs, per-voice pan, choke groups, a modest FX slot. A direction to leave
  room for, never a commitment.

## Phase S — must-verify-before-build (carried from CONTEXT.md §Phase S)
- **Steinberg VST3 SDK surface** — interface members, base-class overrides,
  factory-macro spellings, Windows module-export symbol names
  (`InitDll`/`ExitDll`/`GetPluginFactory`), and whether VSTGUI is bundled. Several are
  §1a experienced-estimates until S1 confirms them against the vendored SDK.
- **VST-host bridge** — opcodes `0xdeadf00d` (resolve-by-name) / `0xdeadf00e` (host
  context) and the exact call marshalling, against `reaper_plugin.h` /
  `video_processor.h` / `reaper_plugin_functions.h`.
- **`IReaperUIEmbedInterface`** — embed contract + message/lifecycle, against
  `reaper_plugin_fx_embed.h` (needed only at S6).

---

# Phase L — Look-and-feel (system-wide visual design language)

> **New pillar, own lettered namespace, taken up by a parallel team.** Phase L is the
> whole-system look-and-feel effort: a shared LICE drawing kit and the surfaces that
> adopt it, so ReaSampler and ReaSampler 9000 shed the flat "temple os" drawing for a
> modern, sleek 2026 dark synth look. It answers Daniel's post-DAW-test verdict on the
> instrument ("this looks like temple os… the VST is dogshit… scope it for the whole
> system… does Cockos have a toolkit?"). Namespaced **`L` (Look-and-feel)** so it is
> orthogonal to and ungated by the M/D/B/R/V/S pillars — a parallel team owns it while
> Phase S feature work proceeds independently. Authoritative spec: **CONTEXT.md §Phase L
> — visual design language (design-system spec)**. Product framing, the settled decision
> record (DS-1/DS-2/DS-3 all SETTLED 2026-07-26), palette, and the three visual
> directions: `docs/product/visual-design-language.md`. When a point lands, doc-keeper
> moves it to `COMPLETED.md`.
>
> **L1 (shared LICE drawing kit — the foundation) has landed** — `theme`/palette module,
> `component_geometry` geometry/hit-test helpers, `draw_kit` shell, and GDI `DrawText`
> retirement in `bank_panel`. See `COMPLETED.md`. **L2 and L3 remain.**
>
> **This section is self-contained for a team without Phase S context.** Where a point
> touches a Phase S surface (the VST editor, the embed strip, the keyboard strip), the
> gate is stated explicitly so the team does not chase files that are not on dev yet.
>
> **Settled decisions (Daniel, 2026-07-26 — see `docs/product/visual-design-language.md`
> §6):**
> - **DS-1 — toolkit: LICE + WDL free game, no external frameworks.** Draw the modern
>   look with LICE directly; reuse any useful WDL/vwnd piece (skin/image helpers, draw
>   idioms, a control like the scroll listbox) where it beats re-deriving — "don't
>   reinvent the wheel." Reject iPlug2 / JUCE / VSTGUI (external frameworks re-opening the
>   settled bare-SDK+LICE build shape). Keep hit-test geometry in pure CTest-covered
>   modules — do not import vwnd's retained-mode object model wholesale.
> - **DS-2 — visual direction: Direction B ("Neon Console") + Direction C's spectral
>   keyboard strip.** Near-black + one vivid accent everywhere; a hue-mapped spectral
>   keyboard strip as the signature surface. The kit palette is abstract (roles, one
>   constants block), so the direction is a single-file change.
> - **DS-3 — dock-panel scope: a thorough layout redesign, not a light re-skin.** L2 lays
>   out the full button inventory (including M11's action-button additions) intuitively,
>   uncluttered, and useful — then applies the kit. Sequenced after M11 merges.

## L2 — dock-panel layout redesign (extension-side; DS-3: thorough, not a re-skin)
**Goal:** Redesign the docked `bank_panel` **layout** to house the *full* button/affordance
inventory — including the buttons **M11 adds** — intuitively, uncluttered, and useful, then
draw it all through the L1 kit. This is **not** a light re-skin (DS-3 settled): M11's
action-trigger buttons + keybinding-help labels, on top of the existing capture/organize/
prune/view affordances, are a real button inventory that a straight skin-pass would leave
crowded. L2 groups the inventory by *task* (capture, organize, reclaim, view), gives every
button a home that does not squeeze the grid, and only then applies the kit's draws. All
new layout math goes in a **pure geometry module** (mirror of `mode_switch`/`bank_grid`);
`bank_grid`/`tab_strip`/`mode_switch` stay the pure source of truth for what they own.
CONTEXT.md §Phase L (dock-panel layout contract — the full M11-aware inventory).
**Verify (in DAW):** the full button inventory (existing + M11) is laid out cleanly — the
grid stays the centerpiece, frequent capture actions are one reach away with their keybinding
labels legible, destructive prune is set apart and `warn`-marked, hover lights every
interactive element; nothing is crammed or cut off at panel resize; the panel's GDI text is
gone (kit cached-font throughout); all hit-testing is CTest-green pure geometry.
**Depends on:** L1 (the kit). **Sequence AFTER M11 merges to dev** — L2 must inventory M11's
*actual landed* buttons, not a forecast; starting before M11 designs against a moving target.

- [ ] **Layout design + pure geometry:** design the panel layout that groups the inventory
  by task — a compact action bar/toolbar for the frequent capture actions (icon+label,
  keybinding as a `micro` sub-label), an overflow/menu for rare ones, header space for the
  Design View mode switch + active-bank indicator, the bank tab strip + move/copy/remove
  organize cluster, and prune set apart and `warn`-colored. Add a new **pure** action-bar
  layout module (mirror of `mode_switch`/`bank_grid`); keep all hit-test math pure/CTest.
- [ ] **Inventory the full M11-aware button set and place every one** (see CONTEXT.md
  §Phase L for the enumerated inventory): existing — bank grid, mode switch + membership
  count, named-banks tab strip (overflow/scroll), active-bank indicator, pool/banks
  full-height toggles, create/rename/delete/activate bank, move/copy/remove sample, prune
  (R-E); M11 — action-trigger buttons (capture item/track, re-capture, resample-and-mute,
  batch capture, conform-on-insert, insert-at-cursor, drag-out, null-test verify) and
  per-action keybinding-help labels. Density is a design decision: 8px grid, elevation
  layers over hairlines, `warn` for destructive verbs.
- [ ] **Apply the L1 kit** to draw the redesigned panel: cached-font text (retire GDI),
  kit `drawButton`/segment/tab draws, palette roles, micro-gradient surfaces, hover on
  every interactive element. Structure of the vertical-split / grid / tab bones is
  preserved; the *layout of the inventory around them* is the design work (DS-3).

## L3 — VST editor + embed-strip restyle (GATED on Phase S landing on dev)
**Goal:** Bring the ReaSampler 9000 VST editor (`IPlugView` LICE surface) and the S6 embed
strip up to the settled B+spectral look via the L1 kit: cached-font text, kit component
draws, the Neon-Console palette, the **spectral keyboard strip** as the signature surface
(DS-2), and hover/pressed/drag states throughout. CONTEXT.md §Phase L (VST restyle + the
Phase S coordination contract). Product framing: `docs/product/visual-design-language.md` §5.3.
**Verify (in DAW):** the VST editor + embed strip render in the settled B+spectral language
through the L1 kit — AA cached-font text, gradient/rounded kit components, the spectral
keyboard strip, working hover/pressed/drag; the VST3 class UID is unchanged (a visual
refresh is not a compat event).
**Depends on:** L1 (the kit) **AND — GATE — Phase S landing on dev.** The VST editor, embed
strip, and keyboard strip live in Phase S, which is **not on dev yet** (it exists on the
phase-s worktree). **L3 cannot be built on dev until Phase S's editor/embed surfaces
(≈ S1 / S6 / S10) merge to dev. The Phase L team must NOT chase these files on dev — they
are not there.** Until then L3 is a planned, blocked point; L1 and L2 are the live Phase L
work.

> **Coordination contract with Phase S (load-bearing).** Phase S's S10–S13 build their
> interaction UX with the **current** drawing and **adopt the L1 kit when it is available —
> they are NOT gated on Phase L.** Whichever lands first (the L1 kit or the S10–S13 UX),
> the kit is the **one source of drawing**: if S10–S13 reach dev before L1, they draw in
> the current language and L3 restyles them; if L1 lands first, they are born in the kit.
> Either way there is one kit and one look, and L3 is the point that completes the VST/embed
> adoption and applies the settled B+spectral treatment.

- [ ] Route the VST editor's + embed strip's text through the kit's cached-font `text()`;
  retire their raw GDI `DrawTextA` path. (Gated — Phase S surfaces must be on dev.)
- [ ] Restyle the editor + embed components through the kit (buttons, sliders/ADSR, list
  rows, waveform, segmented controls) in the B (Neon Console) palette; add hover/pressed/
  drag states. (Gated.)
- [ ] Apply **Direction C's spectral treatment to the keyboard strip** (hue-mapped zones,
  glow-on-active as a static drawn state — never a pulse, per the speed constraint) as the
  signature surface; VST3 class UID unchanged. (Gated.)

## Phase L — sequencing
```
L1 (shared kit) ──► L2 (dock-panel layout redesign; AFTER M11 merges to dev)
        └─────────► L3 (VST editor + embed-strip restyle; GATED on Phase S landing on dev)

Phase S (separate team, ungated): S-work builds with current drawing, adopts L1 when it lands.
```
L1 is the foundation both L2 and L3 consume. L2 is extension-side, lands after M11. L3 waits
for Phase S to reach dev. Phase S feature work runs in parallel, ungated by Phase L.

## Phase L — must-verify-before-build
- **LICE design-kit surfaces (L1)** — `LICE_GradRect`, `LICE_RoundRect`, AA
  `LICE_Line`/`LICE_FLine`/`LICE_ThickFLine`/`LICE_Circle`/`LICE_FillCircle`/
  `LICE_DrawCBezier`, `LICE_FillTriangle`/`FillTrapezoid`/`FillConvexPolygon`, and the
  `LICE_CachedFont`/`LICE_IFont` font engine (`SetFromHFont`, AA `DrawText`, shadow/outline/
  glow FX flags). Verified *present* in `vendor/WDL/WDL/lice/lice.h` + `lice_text.h`
  (design-language doc §1.1); **confirm exact signatures + the `LICE_CachedFont`↔`HFONT`
  lifecycle at build.**
- **WDL/vwnd reuse assessment (DS-1)** — at build time, evaluate whether a vwnd piece beats
  re-deriving it: `virtwnd-slider.cpp` / `vwnd_slider_drawknobstack` as the slider/knob
  drawing reference, `virtwnd-listbox.cpp` as a candidate scroll listbox, `virtwnd-controls.h`
  for `WDL_STYLE_*` gradient hooks, `virtwnd-skin.h` for image-skin helpers. Reuse where
  useful; keep hit-test geometry pure regardless.
- **M11 button inventory (L2)** — L2's layout depends on the *actual* set of buttons M11
  lands (action-trigger buttons + keybinding-help labels). Re-inventory against dev after
  M11 merges before finalizing the layout.