nih-plug is an audio plugin SDK and development framework providing a set of tools and traits for processing audio and MIDI data in a real-time safe environment. It functions as a cross-format plugin wrapper, allowing a single implementation to be exported into multiple industry-standard audio plugin formats, including VST, CLAP, and LV2.
The project includes a retained-mode GUI framework for creating interactive user interfaces and parameter controls for audio processors. It also provides a real-time audio library that utilizes hardware acceleration and asynchronous task management to maintain low-latency performance.
The SDK covers a broad range of capabilities, including declarative parameter management with value smoothing, host-agnostic state persistence, and dynamic audio port configuration. It further supports standalone binary generation and macOS binary signing for distribution.