Patchwright User Manual
Version: 0.1.0 · Last updated: June 2026
You can also read this manual online at patchwright.live/docs.
Who this manual is for
You use Ableton Live — Session View, Arrangement, clips, tracks, devices. You want right-click tools that change your Set without learning TypeScript or opening a terminal.
This manual is not for software developers. It does not explain how Patchwright is built internally. For contributor setup, see DEVELOPMENT.md (developers only — see repository) (developers only).
What you will learn
After working through this manual you can:
- Navigate the Patchwright studio and find every control you need
- Choose the right trigger (where your command appears in Live)
- Wire Run and data connections between nodes
- Use templates, PatchAI, and the Dialog Designer
- Build & Run in Live or export an
.ablxfor another machine - Fix common problems when something does not appear in Live’s menu
How to use this manual
| If you want to… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Install and run your first extension in 15 minutes | Getting Started |
| Understand what Patchwright is | Welcome |
| Learn the studio layout | The Studio |
| Understand wires, triggers, and undo | Core Concepts |
| Follow step-by-step lessons | Tutorials |
| Solve a specific task | How-To Guides |
| Look up a node | Node Reference |
| Look up a word | Glossary |
| Fix a problem | Troubleshooting |
Tutorials teach by doing (like Ableton’s built-in lessons). How-To guides answer one question each. Node Reference lists every node category in plain language.
Conventions in this manual
- You — we address you directly.
- Click, wire, Build & Run — present tense, active voice.
- Bold — UI labels and important terms the first time they appear.
- Note / Tip / Important — callouts for limits, shortcuts, and safety.
- macOS vs Windows — we write Cmd for macOS; on Windows use Ctrl instead unless noted.
- Figures — screenshots from the Patchwright studio (
docs/manual/assets/).
Quick links
- Getting Started — first extension walkthrough
- Node Reference — which node do I need? (every node category, plus port details for power users)
- Troubleshooting — host path, setup, and build problems