Glossary

Alphabetical terms used in Patchwright and Live Extensions.

.ablx — Installable Ableton Live Extension package. Export with Build .ablx, drag onto Live → Preferences → Extensions to install.

API Secret — Named key stored in Settings → API Secrets for HTTP Fetch nodes (not PatchAI keys).

Author — Your name on the toolbar; stored in extension metadata.

Build & Run — Compile your graph, install to Live, and connect the desktop bridge.

Command — One menu item your extension adds to Live’s right-click Extensions submenu.

Data wire — Carries values (clip, number, text, note list) between nodes.

Developer Mode — Live setting required to install and test extensions (Live Preferences > Extensions).

Designer — Toolbar tool to lay out a popup UI for Show Dialog nodes.

Dock — Right-side panels: Generate Code, AI Assistant, Host.

Extension — Add-on for Live 12 that registers commands (not a VST or M4L device).

Extension Host — Live helper module Patchwright uses to talk to Live (desktop Host… panel).

Extension name — Toolbar field; appears in Live as ExtensionName: On ….

Handle — Live object reference (a clip, track, etc.) passed on wires — not a copy of the data.

Node — One box on the canvas (trigger, getter, setter, logic, …).

PatchAI — AI Assistant in the dock; describes graphs in plain language.

Patchwright — Visual builder for Live Extensions (this app).

Port — Connection point on a node (Run or data type).

Progress Dialog — Node that shows Live’s progress UI for long async work.

Run wire — Control-flow connection — defines step order.

Sandbox — Safe folder where file nodes may read/write (storage/temp).

Show Dialog — Node that displays a designed dialog and returns user input.

Target — Trigger output: the Live object the user right-clicked.

Transaction — Undo group node; changes inside Body undo as one step in Live.

Trigger — “When you right-click…” node; starts a command and outputs target.

Undo group — Same as Transaction.

Wire — Connection between two ports.


See also