Tracktion · drowaudio · Jan 31, 2026 · Jan 31, 2026 · Jan 31, 2026 · Jan 31, 2026
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -33,6 +33,44 @@ Follow these guidelines when working on this codebase:
 
 6. **Never speculate about unread code**: Never make claims about code you haven't opened. If the user references a specific file, you MUST read the file before answering. Investigate and read relevant files BEFORE answering questions about the codebase. Give grounded, hallucination-free answers based on actual file contents.
 
+## Getting CI Run Logs
+
+### Configuration
+
+- **Organisation:** `<organisation>`
+- **Repository:** `<repo>`
+
+For this project:
+- **Organisation:** `Tracktion`
+- **Repository:** `pluginval`
+
+### Setup
+
+Install the GitHub CLI:
+```bash
+brew install gh  # macOS
+# or
+sudo apt install gh  # Ubuntu/Debian
+```
+
+Authentication is handled via the `GH_TOKEN` environment variable (already configured).
+
+### Workflow
+
+1. **List recent workflow runs:**
+   ```bash
+   gh run list -R <organisation>/<repo>
+   ```
+
+2. **Find the most recent run for your branch** from the output above.
+
+3. **View failed log details:**
+   ```bash
+   gh run view -R <organisation>/<repo> <run_id> --log-failed
+   ```
+
+Replace `<run_id>` with the ID from step 2.
+
 ## Directory Structure
 
 ```
@@ -49,6 +87,9 @@ pluginval/
 │   ├── PluginvalLookAndFeel.h # Custom UI styling
 │   ├── StrictnessInfoPopup.h # Strictness level info UI
 │   ├── binarydata/           # Binary resources (icons)
+│   ├── vst3validator/        # Embedded VST3 validator integration
+│   │   ├── VST3ValidatorRunner.h
+│   │   └── VST3ValidatorRunner.cpp
 │   └── tests/                # Individual test implementations
 │       ├── BasicTests.cpp    # Core plugin tests (info, state, audio)
 │       ├── BusTests.cpp      # Audio bus configuration tests
@@ -59,7 +100,8 @@ pluginval/
 ├── modules/
 │   └── juce/                 # JUCE framework (git submodule)
 ├── cmake/
-│   └── CPM.cmake             # CMake Package Manager
+│   ├── CPM.cmake             # CMake Package Manager
+│   └── GenerateBinaryHeader.cmake  # Binary-to-C-header converter
 ├── tests/
 │   ├── AddPluginvalTests.cmake  # CMake module for CTest integration
 │   ├── test_plugins/         # Test plugin files
@@ -101,6 +143,7 @@ cmake --build Builds/Debug --config Debug
 | Option | Description | Default |
 |--------|-------------|---------|
 | `PLUGINVAL_FETCH_JUCE` | Fetch JUCE with pluginval | ON |
+| `PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR` | Build with embedded VST3 validator | ON |
 | `WITH_ADDRESS_SANITIZER` | Enable AddressSanitizer | OFF |
 | `WITH_THREAD_SANITIZER` | Enable ThreadSanitizer | OFF |
 | `VST2_SDK_DIR` | Path to VST2 SDK (env var) | - |
@@ -177,6 +220,26 @@ struct Requirements {
 | `LocaleTest.cpp` | Locale handling verification |
 | `ExtremeTests.cpp` | Edge cases, stress tests |
 
+### VST3 Validator Integration
+
+The VST3 validator (Steinberg's vstvalidator) is embedded into pluginval when built with `PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR=ON` (the default). This provides single-file distribution while keeping vstvalidator completely isolated from pluginval's link dependencies.
+
+**Architecture:**
+1. The VST3 SDK is fetched via CPM during CMake configure
+2. The SDK's own `validator` target is built as a separate executable
+3. A CMake script (`cmake/GenerateBinaryHeader.cmake`) converts the compiled binary into a C byte array header
+4. `VST3ValidatorRunner` (`Source/vst3validator/`) extracts the embedded binary to a temp file on first use
+5. When the `VST3validator` test runs, it spawns the extracted validator as a subprocess
+
+**Key files:**
+- `cmake/GenerateBinaryHeader.cmake` — binary-to-C-header conversion script
+- `Source/vst3validator/VST3ValidatorRunner.h/cpp` — extracts embedded binary, returns `juce::File`
+
+**Disabling embedded validator:**
+```bash
+cmake -B Builds -DPLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR=OFF .
+```
+
 ## Adding New Tests
 
 1. Create a subclass of `PluginTest`:
@@ -312,6 +375,7 @@ add_pluginval_tests(MyPluginTarget
 - **JUCE** (v8.0.x) - Audio application framework (git submodule)
 - **magic_enum** (v0.9.7) - Enum reflection (fetched via CPM)
 - **rtcheck** (optional, macOS) - Real-time safety checking (fetched via CPM)
+- **VST3 SDK** (v3.7.x) - Steinberg VST3 SDK for embedded validator (fetched via CPM, optional)
 
 ### System
 - macOS: CoreAudio, AudioUnit frameworks

diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -65,6 +65,28 @@ if (pluginval_IS_TOP_LEVEL)
     CPMAddPackage("gh:juce-framework/juce#8.0.3")
 endif()
 
+
+# VST3 Validator integration - embeds Steinberg's vstvalidator directly into pluginval
+option(PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR "Build with embedded VST3 validator" ON)
+
+if(PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR)
+    # Use static CRT on Windows to match pluginval's settings
+    set(SMTG_USE_STATIC_CRT ON CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+
+    CPMAddPackage(
+        NAME vst3sdk
+        GITHUB_REPOSITORY steinbergmedia/vst3sdk
+        GIT_TAG v3.7.14_build_55
+        OPTIONS
+            "SMTG_ENABLE_VST3_PLUGIN_EXAMPLES OFF"
+            "SMTG_ENABLE_VST3_HOSTING_EXAMPLES OFF"
+            "SMTG_ENABLE_VSTGUI_SUPPORT OFF"
+            "SMTG_ADD_VSTGUI OFF"
+            "SMTG_RUN_VST_VALIDATOR OFF"
+            "SMTG_CREATE_BUNDLE_FOR_WINDOWS OFF"
+    )
+endif()
+
 if (DEFINED ENV{VST2_SDK_DIR})
     MESSAGE(STATUS "Building with VST2 SDK: $ENV{VST2_SDK_DIR}")
     juce_set_vst2_sdk_path($ENV{VST2_SDK_DIR})
@@ -109,6 +131,16 @@ set(SourceFiles
 target_sources(pluginval PRIVATE ${SourceFiles})
 source_group(TREE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Source PREFIX Source FILES ${SourceFiles})
 
+# Add VST3 validator runner sources to pluginval (extracts embedded binary at runtime)
+if(PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR)
+    set(VST3ValidatorFiles
+        Source/vst3validator/VST3ValidatorRunner.h
+        Source/vst3validator/VST3ValidatorRunner.cpp
+    )
+    target_sources(pluginval PRIVATE ${VST3ValidatorFiles})
+    source_group("Source/vst3validator" FILES ${VST3ValidatorFiles})
+endif()
+
 if (DEFINED ENV{VST2_SDK_DIR})
     target_compile_definitions(pluginval PRIVATE
         JUCE_PLUGINHOST_VST=1)
@@ -124,8 +156,10 @@ target_compile_definitions(pluginval PRIVATE
     JUCE_MODAL_LOOPS_PERMITTED=1
     JUCE_GUI_BASICS_INCLUDE_XHEADERS=1
     $<$<BOOL:${PLUGINVAL_ENABLE_RTCHECK}>:PLUGINVAL_ENABLE_RTCHECK=1>
+    $<$<BOOL:${PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR}>:PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR=1>
     VERSION="${CURRENT_VERSION}")
 
+
 if(MSVC AND NOT CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY)
     # Default to statically linking the runtime libraries
     set_property(TARGET pluginval PROPERTY MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>")
@@ -143,6 +177,22 @@ if (${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Linux")
         -static-libstdc++)
 endif()
 
+# Embed the SDK's validator binary into pluginval
+if(PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR)
+    set(VSTVALIDATOR_HEADER "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/generated/vstvalidator_data.h")
+    add_custom_command(
+        OUTPUT "${VSTVALIDATOR_HEADER}"
+        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND}
+            -DINPUT_FILE=$<TARGET_FILE:validator>
+            -DOUTPUT_FILE=${VSTVALIDATOR_HEADER}
+            -P ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/GenerateBinaryHeader.cmake
+        DEPENDS validator
+        COMMENT "Embedding vstvalidator binary into header...")
+
+    target_sources(pluginval PRIVATE "${VSTVALIDATOR_HEADER}")
+    target_include_directories(pluginval PRIVATE "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/generated")
+endif()
+
 if (PLUGINVAL_ENABLE_RTCHECK)
     target_link_libraries(pluginval PRIVATE
         rtcheck)

diff --git a/Source/CommandLine.cpp b/Source/CommandLine.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,6 @@ static Option possibleOptions[] =
     { "--randomise",            false   },
     { "--sample-rates",         true    },
     { "--block-sizes",          true    },
-    { "--vst3validator",        true    },
     { "--rtcheck",              false   },
 };
 
@@ -384,8 +383,6 @@ static juce::String getHelpMessage()
   --disabled-tests [pathToFile]
     If specified, sets a path to a file that should have the names of disabled
     tests on each row.
-  --vst3validator [pathToValidator]
-    If specified, this will run the VST3 validator as part of the test process.
 
   --output-dir [pathToDir]
     If specified, sets a directory to store the log files. This can be useful
@@ -599,7 +596,6 @@ std::pair<juce::String, PluginTests::Options> parseCommandLine (const juce::Argu
     options.disabledTests       = getDisabledTests (args);
     options.sampleRates         = getSampleRates (args);
     options.blockSizes          = getBlockSizes (args);
-    options.vst3Validator       = getOptionValue (args, "--vst3validator", "", "Expected a path for the --vst3validator option");
     options.realtimeCheck       = magic_enum::enum_cast<RealtimeCheck> (getOptionValue (args, "--rtcheck", "", "Expected one of [disabled, enabled, relaxed]").toString().toStdString())
                                     .value_or (RealtimeCheck::disabled);
 
@@ -669,9 +665,6 @@ juce::StringArray createCommandLine (juce::String fileOrID, PluginTests::Options
         args.addArray ({ "--block-sizes", blockSizes.joinIntoString (",") });
     }
 
-    if (options.vst3Validator != juce::File())
-        args.addArray ({ "--vst3validator", options.vst3Validator.getFullPathName().quoted() });
-
     if (auto rtCheckMode = options.realtimeCheck;
         rtCheckMode != RealtimeCheck::disabled)
     {

diff --git a/Source/Main.cpp b/Source/Main.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "CommandLine.h"
 #include "PluginvalLookAndFeel.h"
 
+
 //==============================================================================
 class PluginValidatorApplication  : public juce::JUCEApplication,
                                    private juce::AsyncUpdater
@@ -174,7 +175,6 @@ class PluginValidatorApplication  : public juce::JUCEApplication,
 };
 
 //==============================================================================
-// This macro generates the main() routine that launches the app.
 START_JUCE_APPLICATION (PluginValidatorApplication)
 
 juce::PropertiesFile& getAppPreferences()

diff --git a/Source/MainComponent.cpp b/Source/MainComponent.cpp
@@ -108,16 +108,6 @@ namespace
         return { 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 };
     }
 
-    void setVST3Validator (juce::File f)
-    {
-        getAppPreferences().setValue ("vst3validator", f.getFullPathName());
-    }
-
-    juce::File getVST3Validator()
-    {
-        return getAppPreferences().getValue ("vst3validator", juce::String());
-    }
-
     void setRealtimeCheckMode (RealtimeCheck rt)
     {
         getAppPreferences().setValue ("realtimeCheckMode", juce::String (std::string (magic_enum::enum_name (rt))));
@@ -210,7 +200,6 @@ namespace
         options.outputDir = getOutputDir();
         options.sampleRates = getSampleRates();
         options.blockSizes = getBlockSizes();
-        options.vst3Validator = getVST3Validator();
         options.realtimeCheck = getRealtimeCheckMode();
 
         return options;
@@ -296,34 +285,6 @@ namespace
                                                                       }
                                                                   }));
     }
-
-    void showVST3ValidatorDialog()
-    {
-        juce::String message = TRANS("Set the location of the VST3 validator app");
-        auto app = getVST3Validator();
-
-        if (app.getFullPathName().isNotEmpty())
-            message << "\n\n" << app.getFullPathName().quoted();
-        else
-            message << "\n\n" << "\"None set\"";
-
-        std::shared_ptr<juce::AlertWindow> aw (juce::LookAndFeel::getDefaultLookAndFeel().createAlertWindow (TRANS("Set VST3 validator"), message,
-                                                                                                 TRANS("Choose"), TRANS("Don't use VST3 validator"), TRANS("Cancel"),
-                                                                                                 juce::AlertWindow::QuestionIcon, 3, nullptr));
-        aw->enterModalState (true, juce::ModalCallbackFunction::create ([aw] (int res)
-                                                                  {
-                                                                      if (res == 1)
-                                                                          setVST3Validator ({});
-
-                                                                      if (res == 1)
-                                                                      {
-                                                                          juce::FileChooser fc (TRANS("Choose VST3 validator"), {});
-
-                                                                          if (fc.browseForFileToOpen())
-                                                                              setVST3Validator (fc.getResult().getFullPathName());
-                                                                      }
-                                                                  }));
-    }
 }
 
 //==============================================================================
@@ -633,9 +594,6 @@ juce::PopupMenu MainComponent::createOptionsMenu()
     m.addItem (TRANS("Randomise tests"), true, getRandomiseTests(),
                [] { setRandomiseTests (! getRandomiseTests()); });
 
-    m.addItem (TRANS("Set VST3 validator location..."),
-               [] { showVST3ValidatorDialog(); });
-
     m.addSeparator();
 
     m.addItem (TRANS("Show settings folder"),

diff --git a/Source/PluginTests.h b/Source/PluginTests.h
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ struct PluginTests : public juce::UnitTest
         juce::StringArray disabledTests;                        /**< List of disabled tests. */
         std::vector<double> sampleRates;                        /**< List of sample rates. */
         std::vector<int> blockSizes;                            /**< List of block sizes. */
-        juce::File vst3Validator;                               /**< juce::File to use as the VST3 validator app. */
         RealtimeCheck realtimeCheck = RealtimeCheck::disabled;  /**< The type of real-time safety checking to perform. */
     };
 

diff --git a/Source/tests/BasicTests.cpp b/Source/tests/BasicTests.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 #include "../TestUtilities.h"
 #include "../RTCheck.h"
 
+#if PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR
+ #include "../vst3validator/VST3ValidatorRunner.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <future>
 #include <thread>
 #include <chrono>
@@ -875,6 +879,7 @@ static AUvalTest auvalTest;
 
 //==============================================================================
 /** Runs Steinberg's validator on the plugin if it's a VST3.
+    Uses the embedded VST3 validator when built with PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR.
  */
 struct VST3validator    : public PluginTest
 {
@@ -890,24 +895,33 @@ struct VST3validator    : public PluginTest
         if (desc.pluginFormatName != "VST3")
             return;
 
-        auto vst3Validator = ut.getOptions().vst3Validator;
+       #if ! PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR
+        ut.logMessage ("INFO: Skipping vst3 validator (not built with VST3 validator support)");
+        return;
+       #else
+        auto tempFile = vst3validator::getValidatorExecutable();
+        auto vstvalidatorExe = tempFile->getFile();
 
-        if (vst3Validator == juce::File())
+        if (! vstvalidatorExe.existsAsFile())
         {
-            ut.logMessage ("INFO: Skipping vst3 validator as validator path hasn't been set");
+            ut.logMessage ("WARNING: Could not extract vstvalidator binary");
             return;
         }
 
-        juce::StringArray cmd (vst3Validator.getFullPathName());
+        juce::StringArray cmd;
+        cmd.add (vstvalidatorExe.getFullPathName());
 
         if (ut.getOptions().strictnessLevel > 5)
             cmd.add ("-e");
 
+        if (! ut.getOptions().verbose)
+            cmd.add ("-q");
+
         cmd.add (ut.getFileOrID());
 
         juce::ChildProcess cp;
         const auto started = cp.start (cmd);
-        ut.expect (started, "VST3 validator app has been set but is unable to start");
+        ut.expect (started, "Failed to start VST3 validator mode");
 
         if (! started)
             return;
@@ -947,15 +961,20 @@ struct VST3validator    : public PluginTest
 
         if (! exitedCleanly && ! ut.getOptions().verbose)
             ut.logMessage (outputBuffer.toString());
+       #endif
     }
 
     std::vector<TestDescription> getDescription (int level) const override
     {
+       #if ! PLUGINVAL_VST3_VALIDATOR
+        return { { name, "Disabled (not built with VST3 validator support)" } };
+       #else
         if (level > 5)
             return { { name, "Runs Steinberg's vstvalidator with -e flag for extended validation (VST3 only)" } };
 
         return { { name, "Runs Steinberg's vstvalidator on the plugin file (VST3 only)" } };
+       #endif
     }
 };
 
-static VST3validator vst3validator;
+static VST3validator vst3validatorTest;