GitHub - wyan/juce-tutorial: A JUCE tutorial fully generated with kilocode.ai and Claude Sonnet 4, so that I can hopefully learn some audio plugin development. Not verified, use at your own risk.

JUCE Audio Development Tutorial Series

A comprehensive, progressive tutorial series that transforms you from a JUCE beginner to a professional audio developer. Learn to build sophisticated audio applications, plugins, and tools using modern C++ and industry best practices.

🎯 What You'll Build

Transform a simple "Hello JUCE!" application into a professional-grade audio utility plugin featuring:

Multi-band EQ with real-time frequency response visualization
Dynamic compressor with sidechain support and gain reduction metering
Advanced delay effects with modulation and tempo synchronization
Real-time spectrum analyzer with peak detection and FFT processing
MIDI integration with MPE support and parameter automation
Modern C++20 features including concepts, coroutines, and metaprogramming
Cross-platform deployment (VST3, AU, AUv3, Standalone)

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

C++ Knowledge: Intermediate level (C++11 features recommended)
Development Environment:
- macOS: Xcode 12+
- Windows: Visual Studio 2019+ or MinGW
- Linux: GCC 9+ or Clang 10+
CMake: Version 3.15 or higher
Git: For cloning the repository

Installation & Setup

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/your-username/juce-audio-tutorial.git
cd juce-audio-tutorial

# Initialize JUCE submodule
git submodule update --init --recursive

# Create build directory
mkdir build && cd build

# Generate build files
cmake ..

# Build the project
cmake --build .

# Run the application
./TestJuce  # Linux/macOS
# or TestJuce.exe on Windows

Verify Installation

If everything is set up correctly, you should see a window with "Hullo JUCE!" displayed on a dark grey background.

📚 Learning Path Overview

🎨 Phase 1: GUI Foundations (Modules 1-4)

Build solid GUI skills before introducing audio complexity

Module	Focus	Duration	Key Skills
Module 1	JUCE Basics & Setup	2-3 hours	Component system, project structure, modern C++11
Module 2	Interactive Controls	3-4 hours	Event handling, layout management, C++14 features
Module 3	Advanced Layout	2-3 hours	Responsive design, FlexBox, custom components
Module 4	Custom Graphics	3-4 hours	Animations, visual effects, advanced drawing

🔊 Phase 2: Audio Integration (Modules 5-7)

Introduce audio concepts while maintaining GUI focus

Module	Focus	Duration	Key Skills
Module 5	Audio I/O & Architecture	4-5 hours	Audio threading, device management, real-time safety
Module 6	Advanced DSP & Effects	6-8 hours	Multi-band EQ, compression, delay, visualization
Module 7	Modern C++20 Integration	4-6 hours	Concepts, coroutines, metaprogramming, testing

🏆 Phase 3: Professional Development (Modules 8-10)

Advanced features and professional polish

Module	Focus	Duration	Key Skills
Module 8	Advanced DSP Algorithms	5-7 hours	Professional algorithms, oversampling, optimization
Module 9	Professional GUI & UX	4-6 hours	Custom Look & Feel, accessibility, advanced visualization
Module 10	Multi-Platform Deployment	3-5 hours	VST3, AU, AUv3, code signing, distribution

Total Learning Time: 35-50 hours (can be completed over 4-8 weeks)

🎯 Choose Your Learning Path

🌱 Beginner Path: "GUI First"

Perfect for developers new to audio programming

Focus: Build confidence with GUI development before tackling audio complexity

Start with Module 1 and progress sequentially
Spend extra time on Modules 1-4 to master JUCE fundamentals
Complete all exercises and code challenges
Timeline: 6-8 weeks, 6-8 hours per week

⚡ Intermediate Path: "Balanced Approach"

For developers with some audio or JUCE experience

Focus: Balanced progression through GUI and audio concepts

Follow the standard module sequence
Focus on practical implementation over theory
Skip basic exercises, focus on advanced challenges
Timeline: 4-6 weeks, 8-10 hours per week

🚀 Advanced Path: "Audio Focus"

For experienced developers wanting to master advanced techniques

Focus: Rapid progression to advanced audio processing and modern C++

Quick review of Modules 1-2
Deep dive into Modules 6-7 (Advanced Audio & Modern C++)
Emphasis on performance optimization and professional techniques
Timeline: 3-4 weeks, 10-12 hours per week

📱 Specialized Path: "Mobile Development"

Focus on iOS/Android audio applications

Focus: Mobile-specific audio development with AUv3 and Android Audio

Modules 1-2, 5-6 (core concepts)
Module 10 with emphasis on AUv3 and mobile deployment
Additional mobile-specific examples and exercises
Timeline: 4-5 weeks, 6-8 hours per week

🛠️ Project Structure

juce-audio-tutorial/
├── 📁 JUCE/                    # JUCE framework (submodule)
├── 📁 Source/                  # Main application source code
│   ├── 📁 AdvancedDSP/        # Advanced DSP implementations
│   ├── 📁 ModernCPP/          # Modern C++ examples and utilities
│   ├── 📁 Visualization/      # Real-time audio visualization
│   ├── 📁 Tests/              # Unit tests and benchmarks
│   └── 📁 Exercises/          # Hands-on coding exercises
├── 📁 tutorials/              # Detailed tutorial modules
├── 📁 examples/               # Standalone code examples
├── 📁 docs/                   # Additional documentation
├── 📄 README.md               # This file
├── 📄 GETTING_STARTED.md      # Detailed setup instructions
├── 📄 QUICK_REFERENCE.md      # Quick lookup guide
└── 📄 CMakeLists.txt          # Build configuration

🎓 Learning Objectives

By completing this tutorial series, you will:

Technical Skills

✅ Master JUCE Framework: Component system, audio processing, plugin development
✅ Modern C++ Proficiency: C++11 through C++20 features in audio context
✅ DSP Implementation: Filters, effects, real-time processing, optimization
✅ Professional Development: Testing, debugging, performance profiling
✅ Cross-Platform Deployment: Multiple plugin formats and platforms

Industry Knowledge

✅ Audio Standards: VST3, AU, AAX plugin formats and specifications
✅ Real-Time Programming: Thread safety, lock-free programming, memory management
✅ User Experience: Professional GUI design, accessibility, workflow optimization
✅ Performance Optimization: SIMD, multi-threading, compile-time optimization
✅ Quality Assurance: Unit testing, integration testing, automated validation

Career Readiness

✅ Portfolio Projects: Professional-quality audio applications and plugins
✅ Industry Best Practices: Code organization, documentation, version control
✅ Problem-Solving Skills: Debugging audio issues, performance optimization
✅ Continuous Learning: Foundation for advanced audio programming topics

📖 Documentation Structure

Core Documentation

Getting Started Guide: Detailed setup and first steps
Tutorial Index: Complete module overview and progress tracking
Quick Reference: JUCE classes, concepts, and patterns lookup
Architecture Overview: Technical design and learning progression

Learning Resources

Code Examples: Standalone examples for key concepts
Exercises: Hands-on coding challenges with solutions
Tests: Unit tests demonstrating best practices
Performance Benchmarks: Performance targets and optimization guides

🤝 Community & Support

Getting Help

📋 Issues: Report bugs or ask questions via GitHub Issues
💬 Discussions: Join community discussions for tips and collaboration
📧 Contact: Reach out for specific questions or feedback
🔗 Resources: Links to JUCE documentation, forums, and additional learning materials

Contributing

We welcome contributions! See our Contributing Guide for:

Code contributions and improvements
Documentation updates and corrections
New examples and exercises
Translation to other languages

🏆 Success Stories

"This tutorial series took me from knowing nothing about audio programming to landing my first job at a major audio software company. The progressive approach and real-world examples made all the difference." — Sarah Chen, Audio Software Engineer

"The modern C++ integration module was exactly what I needed to update our legacy codebase. The performance improvements were immediately noticeable." — Marcus Rodriguez, Senior Developer

"As a mobile developer transitioning to audio, the specialized mobile path helped me understand the unique challenges of real-time audio on iOS and Android." — Aisha Patel, Mobile Audio Developer

📊 Learning Progress Tracking

Track your progress through the tutorial series:

Phase 1: GUI Foundations

Module 1: JUCE Basics & Setup
Module 2: Interactive Controls
Module 3: Advanced Layout
Module 4: Custom Graphics

Phase 2: Audio Integration

Module 5: Audio I/O & Architecture
Module 6: Advanced DSP & Effects
Module 7: Modern C++20 Integration

Phase 3: Professional Development

Module 8: Advanced DSP Algorithms
Module 9: Professional GUI & UX
Module 10: Multi-Platform Deployment

Milestone Projects

Basic GUI Application (End of Phase 1)
Audio Processing Plugin (End of Phase 2)
Professional Audio Utility (End of Phase 3)

🔧 System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

OS: macOS 10.13+, Windows 10+, or Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+)
RAM: 4GB (8GB recommended)
Storage: 2GB free space
CPU: Any modern x64 processor

Recommended Development Environment

IDE: Xcode (macOS), Visual Studio (Windows), CLion or VS Code (cross-platform)
Git Client: Command line or GUI client
Audio Interface: For testing real-time audio (optional but recommended)
DAW Software: For plugin testing (Reaper, Logic Pro, Cubase, etc.)

📜 License & Attribution

This tutorial series is released under the MIT License, making it free for educational and commercial use.

JUCE Framework

This project uses the JUCE framework, which is available under both GPL and commercial licenses. See JUCE Licensing for details.

Third-Party Libraries

Catch2: Testing framework (Boost Software License)
Additional libraries: See individual module documentation for specific attributions

🚀 What's Next?

After completing this tutorial series, consider exploring:

Advanced Topics

Machine Learning in Audio: AI-based audio processing and analysis
Spatial Audio: 3D audio, ambisonics, and immersive audio formats
Embedded Audio: Real-time audio on embedded systems and microcontrollers
Web Audio: Audio processing in browsers using WebAssembly

Career Development

Open Source Contributions: Contribute to JUCE or other audio libraries
Industry Networking: Join audio developer communities and conferences
Specialized Domains: Game audio, broadcast, live sound, or research
Entrepreneurship: Develop and market your own audio software products

Continuous Learning

Stay Updated: Follow JUCE updates and new C++ standards
Expand Skills: Learn complementary technologies (DSP theory, UI/UX design)
Build Portfolio: Create diverse projects showcasing your skills
Share Knowledge: Write blog posts, give talks, or mentor others

Ready to start your JUCE audio development journey?

👉 Begin with Getting Started Guide

👉 Jump to Module 1: JUCE Basics

👉 Explore Code Examples

This tutorial series is actively maintained and updated. Star ⭐ this repository to stay updated with new content and improvements!