How I Build TouchDesigner Apps in 2025 – Python, State Machines, Extensions

Looking to build big, complex applications in TouchDesigner but DEATHLY AFRAID of the complexity?
Do you (wrongly) think TouchDesigner projects have to be a psychotic mess?

Are you making spaghetti projects you can barely read, much less reason about? Are you embarrassed to show your code to others?

Do you use Timer CHOPs to control state? Do you have code scattered all over a million Text DATs and callbacks?

Are you guilty of the 'loads of nodes' code style that is holding you back and alienating your loved ones??

I am excited to tell you that there is a MUCH better way!!

In this video I show you:
STATE MACHINES: how to use Finite State Machines to control application flow and act as a single source of truth, with explicit, declarative, legible code
EXTENSION-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT: how to use Python extensions and minimal nodes to keep code legible, maintainable, and diffable (great for collaboration)
PROJECT STRUCTURE: how to structure the root level of the app and your file system in a way that any old dummy would understand in 5 minutes
STARTUP FLOW: centralize app boostrapping in one logical place
GLOBAL OP SHORTCUTS: this one weird trick to make code infinitely more modular, legible, and portable doctors hate!
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES: use launch scripts and env settings to feature-flag one app to work on many systems
BONUS: a little bit about Pytransitions for fully-featured state machine shenanigans