Companion Pages: Enhance Control With Local Variables

When working with powerful control software like Bitfocus Companion, the ability to manage and organize your commands is paramount. You might find yourself repeating the same logic or values across multiple buttons on a single page. This is where the concept of local variables for Companion pages comes into play, offering a more streamlined and efficient way to manage your control surface. This feature, if implemented, would allow you to define variables that are scoped specifically to the page you are currently working on. Imagine a scenario where a certain parameter needs to be set differently depending on which page you're on in Companion. Instead of manually setting that parameter for every button on that page, you could define a local variable once and have all buttons on that page reference it. This not only simplifies your setup but also makes future edits significantly easier. If you need to change that parameter, you only have to modify the local variable in one place, and the change will propagate across all buttons that use it on that page. This is a significant step up from relying solely on global variables or duplicating configurations, which can quickly become unmanageable. The idea is to create a system where variables are confined to their relevant context, reducing the potential for unintended side effects and improving the overall clarity of your Companion configurations.

The Power of Scoped Variables in Companion

Let's dive deeper into why local variables for Companion pages would be such a game-changer for users. Currently, if you need a variable to hold a specific value that is only relevant to a particular page within Companion, your options are somewhat limited. You might resort to using global variables, but this can lead to conflicts if that variable is also used on other pages with different intended values. Alternatively, you could hardcode the value into each button, which becomes incredibly tedious and error-prone, especially if you have many buttons or if the value needs to be updated frequently. The proposed feature aims to solve this by introducing a local scope for variables. This means a variable declared on Page 5, for instance, would only exist and be accessible to buttons on Page 5. It wouldn't interfere with or be visible to buttons on Page 1 or any other page. This encapsulation is incredibly powerful for organization and maintenance. Think about complex setups where different pages might control different aspects of your AV system. A "Camera Control" page might have a local variable for camera_source_ip, while a "Lighting Control" page might have a local variable for lighting_scene_name. These variables serve distinct purposes and should ideally not overlap. The ability to define and manage these local variables would likely involve a new UI element within Companion, perhaps a dedicated tab or section on each page where you could define these variables and their values. This visual representation would make it much easier to understand the state of each page at a glance. This feature isn't just about convenience; it's about building more robust, scalable, and maintainable control systems within Companion, reducing the cognitive load on the user and minimizing the potential for errors.

Implementing Local Variables: A User's Perspective

From a user's perspective, the implementation of local variables for Companion pages would ideally be intuitive and seamlessly integrated into the existing Companion interface. As mentioned in the initial request, a logical prefix for accessing these variables might be $(page:variable_name). This syntax clearly indicates that the variable is local to the current page, distinguishing it from global variables or custom variables. The interface for managing these variables could mirror the structure already present in Companion for other settings. Imagine a dedicated tab, perhaps labeled "Page Variables" or "Local Scope," located within the button configuration panel or in a sidebar. Clicking on this tab would reveal a list of all defined local variables for that specific page, along with their current values. Adding a new variable would be as simple as clicking an "Add Variable" button, entering a name, and assigning a value. This could also support different data types, such as strings, numbers, or even boolean values, depending on the flexibility desired. The right-hand column, often used for module-specific settings or global variables, could be adapted to display these page-specific variables when the corresponding page is active. This would provide immediate visibility into the scope of your variables. A key benefit here is the reduced complexity in managing configurations. When you have numerous buttons and pages, tracking which variable affects what can become a significant challenge. Local variables offer a way to segment this complexity, making it easier to debug and modify your setup. For example, if a particular button on your "Video Playback" page isn't behaving as expected, you can immediately check the local variables defined on that page without needing to sift through a potentially extensive list of global variables. This localized debugging significantly speeds up troubleshooting. Furthermore, this feature encourages better organization and modularity in your Companion setups, making them more professional and easier to share with others.

Addressing Use Cases with Local Variables

Let's consider the specific use cases where local variables for Companion pages would provide immense value. The scenario described where "some pages have many local variables which all evaluate identically in the context of that single page, but on a different page all evaluate to something else" is a prime example. Without local variables, you're forced into workarounds. You might create separate global variables for each page, like page1_value and page2_value, which pollutes the global namespace and becomes confusing. Or, you might use a single global variable and then use conditional logic within your button commands to check which page is active before using the variable's value. This adds unnecessary complexity to each button command. Local variables offer a clean, elegant solution. On Page 1, you could define a local variable named active_input_name and set its value to "HDMI 1". On Page 2, you could define a local variable with the same name, active_input_name, but set its value to "SDI 2". Each button on Page 1 would refer to $(page:active_input_name) and resolve to "HDMI 1", while buttons on Page 2 would resolve it to "SDI 2". This makes the button configurations self-contained and understandable within their page context. Another powerful use case involves dynamic button labels or feedback. Imagine a button that toggles between two states, like "Start Stream" and "Stop Stream." You could use a local variable stream_status on that page, which could be "Idle" or "Streaming". Buttons could then dynamically display text based on this $(page:stream_status) variable. This is far cleaner than managing separate global variables or complex switch logic within the button itself. The benefit of a shared, canonical value that all buttons on a page could reference without resorting to global customs is precisely what this feature aims to achieve. It promotes a more organized, readable, and maintainable Companion configuration, reducing the burden on the user and enhancing the overall usability of the software for complex setups.

Beyond Basic Variables: Potential Enhancements

While the core concept of local variables for Companion pages is powerful on its own, there's potential to build upon this foundation with further enhancements. Consider the possibility of variable types. Currently, variables might be treated as simple strings. However, allowing for numerical variables, boolean variables, or even array variables could unlock even more sophisticated control scenarios. For instance, a numerical variable could be used for countdown timers specific to a page, or an array variable could hold a list of IP addresses for a group of devices on that page, allowing for iteration through them. Another exciting enhancement would be variable scopes within a page. While the primary request is for page-level scope, perhaps there could be sub-scopes, such as group scopes within a page, allowing for even finer-grained control. This might be overkill for many users, but it offers extreme flexibility for very complex setups. Furthermore, the ability to dynamically set local variables through external triggers or other buttons would add another layer of power. Imagine a button on a "Setup" page that sets several local variables for a "Live Show" page, pre-configuring it for an upcoming event. This would require sophisticated interaction between pages and variable management but could lead to highly automated workflows. The concept of default values for local variables is also worth considering. If a variable isn't explicitly set, it could fall back to a predefined default, preventing errors. Read-only variables could also be implemented, allowing certain values to be defined but not altered by buttons on that page, ensuring critical parameters remain fixed. These potential enhancements, while extending the scope of the original idea, all stem from the fundamental need for more localized and manageable variable management within Bitfocus Companion. The core proposal of page-scoped variables is a strong starting point that addresses a significant user pain point and provides a clear path toward more sophisticated and user-friendly control configurations.

Conclusion: A Leap Forward for Companion Users

In summary, the introduction of local variables for Companion pages represents a significant opportunity to enhance the user experience and capabilities of Bitfocus Companion. By allowing variables to be scoped to individual pages, users can achieve greater organization, reduce complexity, and build more robust and maintainable control configurations. The ability to have a shared, canonical value that all buttons on a page can reference without relying on global variables simplifies workflows and minimizes the potential for errors. This feature addresses a clear use case identified by power users who extensively leverage variables in their setups. The proposed implementation, with intuitive syntax and UI integration, promises to be a valuable addition to Companion. This isn't just a minor tweak; it's a feature that could fundamentally improve how users approach complex control scenarios. It empowers users to create more modular, understandable, and efficient setups, ultimately making Companion an even more powerful tool for live production and AV control.

For those interested in the broader ecosystem of live production control software and workflows, exploring resources like the Bitfocus Companion Wiki can provide valuable insights into existing features and potential future developments.