refactor: migrate from UXP to CEP for After Effects 2026 compatibility

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  build-and-release:
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "20"
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm ci
+
+      - name: Build plugin
+        run: npm run build
+
+      - name: Copy CSInterface placeholder
+        run: |
+          if [ ! -f CSInterface.js ]; then
+            echo "CSInterface.js not found — creating placeholder"
+            echo "// CSInterface.js must be copied from your Adobe After Effects installation."
+            echo "// The installer will find and copy it automatically." > CSInterface.js
+          fi
+
+      - name: Build standalone executables
+        run: bun run build-bin
+
+      - name: Create plugin package
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p package/CSXS package/src package/dist package/assets/icons package/assets/styles
+          cp -r CSXS/* package/CSXS/
+          cp src/index.html package/src/
+          cp dist/index.js package/dist/
+          cp -r assets/icons/* package/assets/icons/
+          cp -r assets/styles/* package/assets/styles/
+          cp manifest.json package/
+          cp CSInterface.js package/
+          cp .debug package/
+          cp install.sh package/
+          cp install.ps1 package/
+          cp uninstall.sh package/
+          cp uninstall.ps1 package/
+          cp README.md package/
+
+      - name: Create archives
+        run: |
+          VERSION="${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
+          cd package && zip -r "../mstudio-ae-plugin-${VERSION}.zip" . && cd ..
+
+          cd dist-bin
+          tar -czf "../install-darwin-arm64-${VERSION}.tar.gz" install-darwin-arm64
+          tar -czf "../install-darwin-x64-${VERSION}.tar.gz" install-darwin-x64
+          zip "../install-windows-x64-${VERSION}.zip" install-windows-x64.exe
+          tar -czf "../uninstall-darwin-arm64-${VERSION}.tar.gz" uninstall-darwin-arm64
+          tar -czf "../uninstall-darwin-x64-${VERSION}.tar.gz" uninstall-darwin-x64
+          zip "../uninstall-windows-x64-${VERSION}.zip" uninstall-windows-x64.exe
+
+      - name: Upload release assets
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        with:
+          files: |
+            mstudio-ae-plugin-*.zip
+            install-darwin-arm64-*.tar.gz
+            install-darwin-x64-*.tar.gz
+            install-windows-x64-*.zip
+            uninstall-darwin-arm64-*.tar.gz
+            uninstall-darwin-x64-*.tar.gz
+            uninstall-windows-x64-*.zip

.gitignore

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ node_modules/
 
 # Build output
 dist/
+dist-bin/
 
 # IDE
 .idea/
@@ -25,3 +26,12 @@ npm-debug.log*
 # Environment
 .env
 .env.local
+
+# CEP — Adobe libraries copied from AE installation
+CSInterface.js
+.debug
+
+# Hello plugin build output
+simple-hello-plugin/dist/
+simple-hello-plugin/node_modules/
+.sisyphus/

CSXS/manifest.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<ExtensionManifest Version="12.0"
+  ExtensionBundleId="com.modelslab.mstudio.ae.sync"
+  ExtensionBundleVersion="1.0.0"
+  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
+  <ExtensionList>
+    <Extension Id="com.modelslab.mstudio.ae.sync.panel" Version="1.0.0" />
+  </ExtensionList>
+  <ExecutionEnvironment>
+    <HostList>
+      <Host Name="AEFT" Version="[13.0,99.9]" />
+    </HostList>
+    <LocaleList>
+      <Locale Code="All" />
+    </LocaleList>
+    <RequiredRuntimeList>
+      <RequiredRuntime Name="CSXS" Version="12.0" />
+    </RequiredRuntimeList>
+  </ExecutionEnvironment>
+  <DispatchInfoList>
+    <Extension Id="com.modelslab.mstudio.ae.sync.panel">
+      <DispatchInfo>
+        <Resources>
+          <MainPath>./index.html</MainPath>
+        </Resources>
+        <Lifecycle>
+          <AutoVisible>true</AutoVisible>
+        </Lifecycle>
+        <UI>
+          <Type>Panel</Type>
+          <Menu>MStudio Sync</Menu>
+          <Geometry>
+            <Size>
+              <Height>500</Height>
+              <Width>320</Width>
+            </Size>
+            <MinSize>
+              <Height>400</Height>
+              <Width>280</Width>
+            </MinSize>
+            <MaxSize>
+              <Height>1200</Height>
+              <Width>600</Width>
+            </MaxSize>
+          </Geometry>
+          <Icons>
+            <Icon Type="Normal">./assets/icons/icon-23.png</Icon>
+            <Icon Type="RollOver">./assets/icons/icon-23.png</Icon>
+            <Icon Type="Disabled">./assets/icons/icon-23.png</Icon>
+            <Icon Type="DarkNormal">./assets/icons/icon-23.png</Icon>
+            <Icon Type="DarkRollOver">./assets/icons/icon-23.png</Icon>
+          </Icons>
+        </UI>
+      </DispatchInfo>
+    </Extension>
+  </DispatchInfoList>
+  <CEFCommandLine>
+    <Parameter>--allow-running-insecure-content</Parameter>
+    <Parameter>--disable-web-security</Parameter>
+  </CEFCommandLine>
+</ExtensionManifest>

README.md

@@ -5,46 +5,100 @@ Bidirectional sync between [MStudio](https://app.mstudio.ai) and Adobe After Eff
 ## Requirements
 
 - Adobe After Effects 2024 or later (v24.0+)
-- [UXP Developer Tool](https://developer.adobe.com/photoshop/uxp/2022/guides/devtool/installation/) (for development/sideloading)
-- Node.js 18+ (for building)
+- Node.js 18+ (for building from source)
 - An MStudio account with an API key that has `sync` scope
 
 ## Installation
 
-### From Built Plugin (Production)
+### Option 1: Standalone Executable (Easiest)
 
-1. Download the latest release from the releases page
-2. Open After Effects
-3. Go to **Edit > Preferences > Scripting & Expressions**
-4. Enable **Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network**
-5. Open the UXP Developer Tool
-6. Click **Add Plugin** and select the `manifest.json` from the extracted release folder
-7. Click **Load** to activate the plugin
-8. The **MStudio Sync** panel will appear under **Window > Extensions**
+Download the installer for your platform from the [latest release](https://github.com/ModelsLab/mstudio-AE-plugin/releases), then:
 
-### From Source (Development)
+**macOS:**
+```bash
+chmod +x install-darwin-arm64   # or install-darwin-x64 for Intel Macs
+./install-darwin-arm64
+```
+
+**Windows:**
+```
+.\install-windows-x64.exe
+```
 
+No Node.js, npm, or build tools required. The executable handles everything.
+
+### Option 2: From Source
+
+**macOS / Linux:**
 ```bash
-# Clone the repository
 git clone https://github.com/ModelsLab/mstudio-AE-plugin.git
 cd mstudio-AE-plugin
+./install.sh
+```
 
-# Install dependencies
-npm install
+**Windows (PowerShell as Administrator):**
+```powershell
+git clone https://github.com/ModelsLab/mstudio-AE-plugin.git
+cd mstudio-AE-plugin
+.\install.ps1
+```
 
-# Build the plugin
-npm run build
+**Or using npm (any platform):**
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/ModelsLab/mstudio-AE-plugin.git
+cd mstudio-AE-plugin
+npm run install-plugin
+```
 
-# Or watch for changes during development
-npm run dev
+The install script will:
+
+1. Build the plugin from source
+2. Enable CEP debug mode (allows unsigned extensions)
+3. Copy CSInterface.js from your AE installation
+4. Symlink the plugin into Adobe's CEP extensions directory
+5. Verify the installation
+
+Then restart After Effects and open **Window → Extensions → MStudio Sync**.
+
+### Build Standalone Executables
+
+To compile installers for all platforms (requires [Bun](https://bun.sh)):
+
+```bash
+bun run build-bin
 ```
 
-Then sideload via UXP Developer Tool:
+This creates executables in `dist-bin/` for macOS (ARM64, x64) and Windows (x64).
+
+### Uninstall
+
+**Standalone executable:** Run the `uninstall` binary for your platform.
 
-1. Open the UXP Developer Tool
-2. Click **Add Plugin**
-3. Navigate to this repo's root directory and select `manifest.json`
-4. Click **Load** to activate
+**From source:**
+- macOS/Linux: `./uninstall.sh`
+- Windows: `.\uninstall.ps1`
+- npm: `npm run uninstall-plugin`
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+Before installing, enable script access in After Effects:
+
+1. Open **Edit → Preferences → Scripting & Expressions** (Windows) or **After Effects → Settings → Scripting & Expressions** (macOS)
+2. Enable **Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network**
+
+### From Source (Development)
+
+```bash
+npm install
+npm run build
+npm run install-plugin
+```
+
+For live development with auto-rebuild:
+
+```bash
+npm run dev
+```
 
 ## Setup
 
@@ -145,7 +199,7 @@ All under `/api/v1/projects/{uuid}/sync/`:
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 
-**Plugin won't load**: Ensure AE is version 24.0+. Check UXP Developer Tool console for errors.
+**Plugin won't load**: Ensure AE is version 24.0+ and CEP PlayerDebugMode is enabled (the install script does this automatically). Check the AE console for errors (Help → Enable Console).
 
 **Connection failed**: Verify your API key has the `sync` scope. Check that your subscription is active.
 
@@ -158,12 +212,17 @@ All under `/api/v1/projects/{uuid}/sync/`:
 ## Development
 
 ```bash
-npm run dev      # Watch mode — rebuilds on file changes
-npm run build    # One-time production build
-npm run clean    # Remove dist/ directory
+npm run dev              # Watch mode — rebuilds on file changes
+npm run build            # One-time production build
+npm run install-plugin   # Rebuild + reinstall into CEP extensions
+npm run uninstall-plugin # Remove plugin from CEP extensions
+npm run clean            # Remove dist/ directory
+bun run build-bin        # Build standalone installers for macOS/Windows
+bun run install-bin      # Run installer via Bun (development)
+bun run uninstall-bin    # Run uninstaller via Bun (development)
 ```
 
-Reload the plugin in UXP Developer Tool after rebuilding to pick up changes.
+After code changes, run `npm run install-plugin` and restart AE to pick up changes.
 
 ## License