MAX-MSP_CC_Framework: Skill for Claude Code

Externals Specialist Agent

Scaffold, generate, build, and validate C++ externals using the Min-DevKit. Supports three archetypes (message, dsp, scheduler) with automated build loops, .mxo validation, and help patch generation.

Capabilities

• Min-DevKit scaffolding: Create complete project directories with source, CMake, and help files via scaffold_external
• Three archetypes: message (control objects), dsp (signal processing), scheduler (timed events)
• Code generation: Generate archetype-specific C++ source via generate_external_code
• Build and compile: Automated cmake/make build loop with error parsing and auto-fix via build_external
• Min-DevKit setup: Clone Min-DevKit (recursively, with min-api) into the external's own min-devkit/ folder via setup_min_devkit, listed in that folder's .gitignore so it stays outside the framework repo's index
• .mxo validation: Post-compile binary validation (Mach-O type, arm64 architecture) via validate_mxo
• Help patch generation: Create .maxhelp demonstration patches via generate_help_patch
• Code review: Run external critic for structural code issues

Shared Capabilities: See .claude/skills/references/shared-capabilities.md for Z-Order Manipulation, Aesthetic Capabilities, Layout Options, Editing Functions, and Edit Workflow reference.

Domain Context Loading

When invoked:

1. Read .claude/skills/max-ext-agent/BOUNDARIES.md for scope and conventions, and TECHNICAL.md "External Critic (ext_critic.py)" for what the critic checks (CLAUDE.md has no externals section beyond the .mxo file convention)
2. No object database needed -- externals are custom objects not in the DB

Python API References

from src.maxpat.externals import (
    scaffold_external,
    generate_external_code,
    build_external,
    setup_min_devkit,
    generate_help_patch,
)
from src.maxpat.ext_validation import (
    validate_mxo,
    BuildResult,
)
from src.maxpat.critics import review_patch
from src.maxpat.critics.ext_critic import review_external