Hi!
I have new projects in which I will use PD. I didn't write big patches since PD-Extended (!!).
To work easier and faster I want to install some GUI plugins, but I can't find a ready-to-use collection, and most of the projects I found are older than 10 years (!!).
Any suggestion on what is worth to install?

I use Vanilla. I could use other, but I noticed most of other projects have not been updated since many years. I want to be sure I can still open my patches in a near or more distant future...

I would say, cannot use pd without:

• completion plugin
• dnd plugin
• the "add object" popup menu, that I borrowed from ceammc pd distribution, filled with my favorites functions in categories. an example of mine here: add-object-plugin.zip

You can found more using *-plugin in pd deken plugin manager...

Thank you for that,

I tried some, it helps!
Can I install add_object without installing the whole distribution?

I'm also looking for something that smooth a bit the patching job, like connections in bezier curves and visualize what's going in the chords (which I remember I had in pd-ext), and something like insert function (insert the block between two objects when dragging), adaptive chords drawing, edit/production modes, snap objects to grid, etc...

anyway I'm working hard on PD these days and it's great!

connections in bezier curves

not in Vanilla, as far as I know, only in other flavours as PurrData, L2Ork or PlugData.
One trick for clean patching is to use the patcher more text-like, with many horizontal lines, as you can see from more advanced users here in the forum (lately here f.e. : https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/14461/can-an-array-be-used-to-arrange-amplitude-changes/2 )

visualize what's going in the chords (which I remember I had in pd-ext)

I never tried, @svanya has made this:
https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/13046/a-movable-autoconnnecting-vu-meter-esp-for-debugging-code

and something like insert function (insert the block between two objects when dragging), adaptive chords drawing

Not all, but some are available by "intelligent patching"
https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/13471/shortcut-replacing-wires

edit/production modes

ctrl+e
learn all the shortcuts

@oid recommended this, I haven't tried yet:
https://github.com/RVirmoors/maxhotkey-pd

hard on PD

@Blindekinder I have a fork of pd that has the capability for (ugly) bezier cables, and setting colors (with a matching tcl plugin for selecting color themes)
https://github.com/sebshader/pdnext/releases
https://github.com/sebshader/color-themes-plugin
It maintains compatibility w/ vanilla otherwise

ctrl+t for messages, too:
https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/14071/msg-a-message-object-bug-fix

I prefer keyboard over mouse.
Using the shortcuts ctrl+1 or +2 or +3 ect. keeps the flow already being connected.
[bng] [tgl] ect same for GUI objects.

Shift+Arrow Keys moves selection in bigger steps.

In Windows system settings I have activated this shortcut:
zero on number-pad for click-hold. Although I'd prefer a different key, it is very useful in Pd to avoid arm strains.

And this looks promising:
Keyboard navigation/patching
https://github.com/pure-data/pure-data/pull/869

This one too:
canvas zoom and scroll with mousewheel
https://github.com/pure-data/pure-data/pull/1659

(Wish to connect a whole chain easily by simply dragging a cable across several objects/msgs, without the need to release the mouse-button.)

Also: in editmode ctrl+click on GUI, instead of ctrl+e

essential: hold shift + drag on number box

@Blindekinder said:

something like insert function (insert the block between two objects when dragging

Something like this?

Not sure what you mean by "when dragging." I have a whole complicated and massive macro abstraction that can insert large blocks and make all the needed connections and the macros themselves are just pd patches (most if not all abstractions are valid macros). It should be uploaded in the near future, slowly working on the documentation and there is one bug which makes it less then ideal for anyone who is not already comfortable and efficient in the vanilla interface since it does not work with redo (if you undo a macro and then redo it you end up with an empty object box instead of what that macro should have placed). But I have been using it heavily for about a year now and a real time saver.

this thread is great!

@lacuna said:

@oid recommended this, I haven't tried yet:
https://github.com/RVirmoors/maxhotkey-pd

hard on PD

thanks for mentioning my plugin! You can also discuss it on its thread or on the github. Although I've already forgotten all I ever knew about tcl so...

thank you!

I tried:
[mouseover-vu] seems nice!

I'll try soon maxhotkey.
I'm sure most pd forks are great, but I want to keep full compatibility for now.

I'm not a new user, but I don't use PD very often. Johannes videos about intelligent patching helped me a lot!
about (non-)edition mode: I know about ctrl+e, I was meaning a difference between both modes, like hiding wires or so...

@Blindekinder I like to have arrow heads on connections in edit mode..... cordarrows-plugin.tcl
tcl plugins must be loaded as Pd starts...... so just put them in one of Pd's standard paths, or a path set in "Preferences" "Paths"
David.