JALV.GTK3(1)

JALV.GTK3 💅✨

okay so bestie, today we're learning jalv.gtk3 — it's a section 1 general commands manual page, and it's literally the glow-up version of an LV2 plugin host: you feed it one single plugin and it runs it, but with a GTK3 interface so you get either the generic sliders-and-knobs situation or the plugin's own custom GUI. main character tool fr fr 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

jalv.gtk3 [-dghmpstx] [-b, --buffer-size=size] [-c, --control=setting]
          [-l, --load=dir] [-n, --jack-name=name] [-P, --preset=uri]
          [-r, --update-frequency=hz] [-S, --scale-factor=scale]
          [-U, --ui-uri=uri] [plugin_state]

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

jalv.gtk3 is a simple LV2 host. it runs a single plugin, that's it, that's the whole job. this particular version rocks a GTK3 interface, which can show you either generic controls or a full custom plugin GUI. it's giving versatile 💖

jalv.gtk3 takes one positional argument, and that one argument can be any of these three vibes:

• a plugin URI
• a preset URI
• the path to a bundle or a data file that describes one

and if you pass none of them? no problem, no stress — a plugin selector dialog pops up first instead. iconic behavior honestly 🌸

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🎀 The Options, bestie 🎀

the options are as follows:

• -b, --buffer-size=size — buffer size for the plugin <=> UI communication, so they can gossip with each other smoothly 💬
• -c, --control=setting — set a control value. like, for example, -c vol=1.4 where vol is the symbol of some control port on the plugin. chef's kiss 🍓
• -d, --dump — dump the plugin <=> UI communication. everything, out loud, on the table 🗣️
• -g, --generic-ui — show the generic UI instead of the custom plugin GUI. no fancy custom face, just the basics 💅
• -h, --help — print the command line options. the classic cry for help ✨
• -l frames — length of an audio block.
• -m, --minimal-ui — show only the plugin interface, zero application extras. bare minimum aesthetic 🧚
• -n, --jack-name=name — use the given JACK client name. important note tho: JACK may adjust that name if it needs to, unless -x is also given 👀
• -P, --preset=uri — load the given preset before running the plugin. presets first, always 🫶
• -p, --print-controls — print control output changes to stdout. it's yapping, but usefully 💜
• -r, --update-frequency=hz — set the UI update frequency. by default the screen refresh rate is used, typically 30 or 60 Hz. so it matches your monitor's whole thing 🔥
• -S, --scale-factor=factor — override the UI scale factor. make it big, make it small, make it yours ✨
• -s, --show-hidden — show controls that are normally hidden. revealing the secrets 🙈
• -t, --trace — print debug trace messages. this enables the "trace" LV2 log, which some plugins use to print debugging output. a couple of extra internal error messages get enabled too.<br>> ⚠️ heads up bestie: this may print in the audio thread, which can cause dropouts. so use it, love it, but know the risk 💀
• -U, --ui-uri=uri — load the UI with the given URI. choose your own interface adventure 🌈
• -x, --exact-jack-name — use only the exact JACK client name given by -n, or exit if it's unavailable. all or nothing, no compromises 👑

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🌸 ENVIRONMENT 🌸

• LV2_PATH — the search path for LV2 bundles, in PATH format. yes, same format as your regular PATH. iykyk 💖

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⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

go read these too, they're the extended universe:

• jalv(1)
• jalv.qt5(1)

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👑 AUTHORS 👑

jalv was written by David Robillard ⟨d@drobilla.net⟩ with contributions by others. and the original GTK interface was added by Alexandros Theodotou and Nick Lanham. absolute legends, no cap 🫶

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and that's the whole page bestie!! this one shipped from Debian, dated August 1, 2025, as JALV.GTK3(1) in the General Commands Manual. go run a plugin, slay, and remember: one plugin, one host, infinite vibes 💅✨🌟