docs update

docs/ARCHITECTURE_RESILIENCE_REVIEW.md

@@ -538,6 +538,10 @@ Expected benefits:
 
 Once rendering and snapshots are isolated, formalize how final parameter values are derived.
 
+Dedicated design note:
+
+- [PHASE_5_LIVE_STATE_LAYERING_DESIGN.md](/c:/Users/Aiden/Documents/GitHub/video-shader-toys/docs/PHASE_5_LIVE_STATE_LAYERING_DESIGN.md)
+
 Recommended layers:
 
 - base persisted state

docs/PHASE_3_LIVE_STATE_SERVICE_COORDINATION_DESIGN.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Current footholds:
 - `RuntimeServiceLiveBridge` translates service OSC queues into render live-state updates and queues settled overlay commit requests.
 - `RuntimeEventDispatcher` now routes accepted mutations, reloads, snapshots, shader build events, backend observations, and health observations.
 
-The current architecture is much better than the original `RuntimeHost` shape. The remaining render risk is now mostly Phase 4 work: GL calls are still reached from callback and UI paths through a shared context lock rather than through one render-thread owner.
+The current architecture is much better than the original `RuntimeHost` shape. Phase 4 has since moved normal runtime GL work onto the `RenderEngine` render thread, so the remaining render-facing risk is no longer shared context ownership; it is the later producer/consumer playout work needed to keep DeckLink callbacks from synchronously waiting on output production.
 
 ## Why Phase 3 Exists
 
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ Before calling Phase 3 complete, update:
 - architecture review checklist
 - Phase 4 assumptions about render thread input state
 
-Status: complete. The Phase 4 design note starts from the `RenderFrameInput` / `RenderFrameState` contract and the remaining shared-GL ownership paths.
+Status: complete. The Phase 4 design note started from the `RenderFrameInput` / `RenderFrameState` contract and has now completed the shared-GL ownership migration.
 
 ## Testing Strategy
 

docs/PHASE_5_LIVE_STATE_LAYERING_DESIGN.md

@@ -0,0 +1,390 @@
+# Phase 5 Design: Live State Layering And Composition
+
+This document expands Phase 5 of [ARCHITECTURE_RESILIENCE_REVIEW.md](/c:/Users/Aiden/Documents/GitHub/video-shader-toys/docs/ARCHITECTURE_RESILIENCE_REVIEW.md) into a concrete design target.
+
+Phase 1 named the subsystems. Phase 2 added the typed event substrate. Phase 3 made render-facing live state explicit through `RuntimeLiveState`, `RenderStateComposer`, `RenderFrameInput`, `RenderFrameState`, `RenderFrameStateResolver`, and `RuntimeServiceLiveBridge`. Phase 4 made one render thread the owner of normal runtime GL work. Phase 5 should now make the live parameter model itself explicit: persisted truth, operator/session truth, and transient automation should be separate layers with one predictable composition rule.
+
+## Status
+
+- Phase 5 design package: proposed.
+- Phase 5 implementation: not started.
+- Current alignment: Phase 3 introduced the first pure composition boundary and transient OSC overlay owner, but committed runtime values are still physically stored through `RuntimeStore`/`LayerStackStore`, and transient OSC overlay state is applied through render-facing helpers rather than through a first-class layered state model.
+
+Current live-state footholds:
+
+- `RuntimeStore` owns persisted layer stack, parameter values, presets, config, and render snapshot read models.
+- `RuntimeCoordinator` owns mutation validation, classification, accepted/rejected event publication, snapshot/reload follow-ups, and the policy switch between committed states and live snapshots.
+- `RuntimeSnapshotProvider` publishes render-facing snapshots from committed runtime state.
+- `RuntimeLiveState` owns transient OSC overlay bookkeeping, smoothing, generation tracking, and commit-settlement policy.
+- `RenderStateComposer` combines base render states with live overlay state and returns final per-frame layer states plus settled commit requests.
+- `RuntimeServiceLiveBridge` drains OSC ingress/completion queues and applies them to render live state during frame preparation.
+
+## Why Phase 5 Exists
+
+The resilience review identifies live OSC overlay and persisted state as separate concepts that still do not have a fully formal model. The app now has better boundaries, but several policies are still implicit:
+
+- whether a value is durable, committed for the current session, or transient automation
+- whether an OSC value should merely influence the current frame or eventually commit
+- what reload, preset load, layer removal, shader change, and reset should do to transient values
+- which layer wins when UI/operator changes race with OSC automation
+- which state changes should publish snapshots, request persistence, or only affect render frames
+
+Without a formal layering model, these rules can leak across `RuntimeStore`, `RuntimeCoordinator`, `RuntimeLiveState`, `RenderStateComposer`, and service bridges. Phase 5 should make those rules boring and testable.
+
+## Goals
+
+Phase 5 should establish:
+
+- explicit state layers for persisted, committed/session, and transient automation values
+- one named composition contract for final render values
+- clear ownership for layer-specific mutation policy
+- explicit reset/reload/preset behavior for transient and committed state
+- a clean path for OSC automation to remain high-rate without becoming durable state by accident
+- tests for layer precedence, lifecycle, invalidation, and commit policy without GL or DeckLink
+- documentation that distinguishes render-local temporal/feedback state from parameter/live-state overlays
+
+## Non-Goals
+
+Phase 5 should not require:
+
+- a background persistence writer implementation
+- a DeckLink producer/consumer playout queue
+- a full cue/timeline/preset performance system
+- a new UI state-management framework
+- replacing every synchronous coordinator API
+- moving temporal history or shader feedback into the runtime state model
+
+Those are later phases or separate feature work. Phase 5 is about parameter and live-value layering.
+
+## Target State Model
+
+Phase 5 should formalize three layers:
+
+| Layer | Owner | Lifetime | Persistence | Render role |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| Base persisted state | `RuntimeStore` / `LayerStackStore` | survives restart | written to disk | default layer stack, shader selections, saved parameter values |
+| Committed live state | `RuntimeCoordinator` or a new live-session collaborator | current running session | may request persistence depending on mutation type | operator/UI/current truth until changed again |
+| Transient automation overlay | `RuntimeLiveState` or a new automation overlay collaborator | high-rate/short-lived | not persisted directly | temporary OSC/automation target applied over committed truth |
+
+The target composition rule is:
+
+```text
+final render state = base persisted state + committed live state + transient automation overlay
+```
+
+The actual implementation may continue using render snapshots as the base transport. The important part is that each layer has named ownership, documented lifetime, and tested precedence.
+
+## Current Composition Shape
+
+Today, final frame state is prepared through this path:
+
+1. `OpenGLComposite::renderEffect()` processes runtime work.
+2. `OpenGLComposite` builds `RenderFrameInput`.
+3. `RuntimeServiceLiveBridge` drains OSC updates and completed commits.
+4. `RenderEngine` updates `RuntimeLiveState`.
+5. `RenderFrameStateResolver` chooses committed states or live snapshot states.
+6. `RenderStateComposer` applies transient overlay values.
+7. `RenderEngine::RenderPreparedFrame(...)` consumes `RenderFrameState`.
+
+That is a good Phase 3/4 foundation. Phase 5 should make the hidden assumptions in steps 5 and 6 explicit enough that reset/reload/preset and future UI automation behavior are not scattered across those collaborators.
+
+## Proposed Collaborators
+
+### `RuntimeStateLayerModel`
+
+Optional pure model that names the layers and composition metadata.
+
+Responsibilities:
+
+- represent base, committed, and transient layer state inputs
+- define precedence and invalidation categories
+- expose a pure composition function or input object
+- keep GL, services, persistence, and device callbacks out of the model
+
+Non-responsibilities:
+
+- disk IO
+- OSC socket handling
+- render-thread scheduling
+- shader compilation
+
+This may be a small set of structs rather than a large class. The value is in naming the contract.
+
+### `CommittedLiveState`
+
+Optional runtime/session collaborator if committed session state needs to move out of `RuntimeStore`.
+
+Responsibilities:
+
+- hold operator/UI committed values that are true for the current session
+- distinguish persistence-required commits from session-only commits
+- expose a read model for snapshot publication
+- provide reset/load behavior separate from durable storage
+
+Non-responsibilities:
+
+- transient OSC smoothing
+- disk writes
+- GL resources
+
+Phase 5 can defer this physical split if the policy is documented and covered by tests. The key is that committed-live state becomes a distinct concept even if it still lives inside existing storage temporarily.
+
+### `AutomationOverlayState`
+
+Possible evolution of `RuntimeLiveState`.
+
+Responsibilities:
+
+- hold transient automation values keyed by route/layer/parameter identity
+- track generation, commit-in-flight, and completion
+- apply smoothing and settle policy
+- decide whether an overlay is render-only, commit-requesting, stale, or invalidated
+
+Non-responsibilities:
+
+- owning committed truth
+- persistent state mutation
+- snapshot publication
+
+This can start by renaming or narrowing current `RuntimeLiveState` responsibilities rather than replacing it outright.
+
+### `LayeredStateComposer`
+
+Possible evolution of `RenderStateComposer`.
+
+Responsibilities:
+
+- apply the target precedence rule
+- produce final `RuntimeRenderState` values for a frame
+- return commit requests or overlay observations when policy says a transient value settled
+- keep value composition testable without OpenGL
+
+Non-responsibilities:
+
+- frame rendering
+- service queue draining
+- storage mutation
+
+## Layering Rules
+
+### Precedence
+
+Default precedence should be:
+
+1. base persisted/snapshot value
+2. committed live/session value
+3. transient automation overlay
+
+The topmost valid layer wins for discrete values. Numeric/vector values may be smoothed by overlay policy before they win.
+
+### Identity
+
+Layering should use stable render-facing identity:
+
+- layer id for persisted structural identity
+- layer key/control key for OSC-facing identity
+- parameter id for shader-defined identity
+- parameter control key for external-control identity
+
+Phase 5 should document which identity is authoritative when layer id and control key disagree or when a shader changes.
+
+### Invalidations
+
+The following should have explicit behavior:
+
+- layer removed: clear committed and transient state for that layer
+- layer shader changed: clear or remap parameter overlays according to compatible control keys
+- preset loaded: replace base/committed state and clear incompatible transient overlays
+- shader reload with same controls: preserve compatible transient overlays where safe
+- manual reset parameters: clear committed overrides and transient overlays for that layer
+- no input/source changes: should not affect parameter layers
+
+### Commit Policy
+
+Transient automation may:
+
+- remain render-only
+- settle and request a committed mutation
+- commit without persistence
+- commit with persistence only when the control path explicitly requests it
+
+The policy should be explicit per ingress path or parameter category. Phase 5 does not need a full UI for it, but the default behavior should be documented and tested.
+
+## Event And Snapshot Contract
+
+Phase 5 should clarify which changes publish which effects:
+
+| Change | Snapshot publication | Persistence request | Render reset | Runtime event |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| persisted layer stack mutation | yes | yes | maybe | accepted mutation + persistence requested |
+| operator live parameter change | yes | maybe | no, unless structural | accepted mutation |
+| transient OSC overlay update | no committed snapshot by default | no | no | optional overlay observation |
+| overlay settled commit | yes if accepted | usually no for OSC | no | accepted mutation or overlay-settled observation |
+| preset load | yes | maybe | temporal/feedback policy dependent | accepted mutation + reload/reset observations |
+| shader change/reload | yes after build | maybe | temporal/feedback policy dependent | shader build/reload events |
+
+This table should evolve with implementation, but Phase 5 should prevent transient overlay updates from masquerading as durable committed state.
+
+## Migration Plan
+
+### Step 1. Inventory Current State Layers
+
+Document and/or encode where each current state category lives:
+
+- persisted layer stack and parameter values
+- committed current-session parameter values
+- runtime compile/reload flags
+- transient OSC overlays
+- render-local temporal history and feedback state
+
+Initial target:
+
+- identify which fields are durable, committed-live, transient automation, render-local, or health/config
+- update subsystem docs where the current ownership is misleading
+- add small tests for classification if a pure helper exists
+
+### Step 2. Name The Layered Composition Input
+
+Introduce a named composition input model around the current `RenderStateCompositionInput`.
+
+Initial target:
+
+- make base/committed/transient inputs visible in type names or field names
+- keep `RenderStateComposer` behavior unchanged at first
+- add tests that assert precedence with no GL
+
+Possible outcomes:
+
+- evolve `RenderStateCompositionInput`
+- add a new `LayeredRenderStateInput`
+- add a thin adapter that feeds existing `RenderStateComposer`
+
+### Step 3. Make Reset And Reload Policy Explicit
+
+Move reset/reload transient-state decisions into one policy point.
+
+Initial target:
+
+- layer removal clears matching transient overlays
+- shader change clears incompatible overlays
+- preset load clears incompatible overlays
+- shader reload can preserve compatible overlays when requested
+- temporal/feedback resets stay render-local and separate from parameter overlays
+
+This is where Phase 5 should prevent "clear everything" and "preserve everything" from being scattered through unrelated code.
+
+### Step 4. Clarify OSC Commit Semantics
+
+Make the transient-to-committed path explicit.
+
+Initial target:
+
+- document and test whether settled OSC commits persist
+- ensure stale generation completions are ignored
+- ensure one settled route does not clear unrelated overlay state
+- publish or preserve useful events for accepted overlay commits
+
+Current Phase 3 behavior is a good base; Phase 5 should make the policy easier to reason about from the code.
+
+### Step 5. Separate Committed-Live Concept From Durable Storage
+
+Decide whether to physically split committed-live state now or introduce a read/model boundary first.
+
+Conservative option:
+
+- leave storage physically in `RuntimeStore`
+- add a named committed-live read model
+- keep persistence decisions in `RuntimeCoordinator`
+
+Stronger option:
+
+- introduce `CommittedLiveState`
+- make `RuntimeSnapshotProvider` consume committed live state through a read model
+- leave durable writes in `RuntimeStore`
+
+Phase 5 does not need a flag-day split. It needs the concept to stop being implicit.
+
+### Step 6. Update Docs And Exit Criteria
+
+Before calling Phase 5 complete, update:
+
+- architecture review checklist
+- `RuntimeCoordinator`, `RuntimeStore`, `RuntimeSnapshotProvider`, `RenderEngine`, and `ControlServices` subsystem docs
+- Phase 6 assumptions about persistence inputs
+- Phase 7 assumptions about what render/backend state is not part of live parameter layering
+
+## Testing Strategy
+
+Phase 5 tests should avoid GL, DeckLink, sockets, and filesystem writes where possible.
+
+Recommended tests:
+
+- base value is used when no committed or transient value exists
+- committed value overrides base value
+- transient overlay overrides committed value
+- numeric smoothing applies only to transient overlay values
+- trigger/bool/discrete overlay behavior is explicit
+- layer removal clears matching transient state
+- shader change preserves only compatible overlays if policy allows
+- preset load clears or replaces committed/transient state according to policy
+- settled OSC overlay creates the expected commit request
+- settled OSC commit does not request persistence unless policy says so
+- stale commit completion does not clear a newer overlay
+- render-local temporal/feedback resets do not mutate parameter layers
+
+Existing useful homes:
+
+- `RuntimeLiveStateTests` for overlay generation, smoothing, settle, and invalidation behavior
+- `RuntimeSubsystemTests` for coordinator mutation, persistence request, and reset/reload policy
+- `RuntimeEventTypeTests` for any new observations or accepted mutation events
+- a possible new `RuntimeStateLayeringTests` target if the composition model gets a pure helper
+
+## Risks
+
+### Over-Abstraction Risk
+
+It would be easy to introduce too many state containers. Phase 5 should add names where they clarify behavior, not create an elaborate framework.
+
+### Persistence Confusion Risk
+
+Committed live state and persisted state are related but not identical. If Phase 5 blurs them, Phase 6's background persistence writer will inherit ambiguous inputs.
+
+### Automation Surprise Risk
+
+OSC automation can be high-rate and transient, but users may expect settled values to become "real." The commit policy needs to be explicit enough that UI, OSC, presets, and reloads behave predictably.
+
+### Identity/Compatibility Risk
+
+Shader changes and preset loads can invalidate layer/parameter identities. Phase 5 should prefer conservative clearing over accidental application of an old automation value to the wrong control.
+
+### Render Coupling Risk
+
+Render-local resources such as temporal history, feedback buffers, readback caches, and playout queues are not parameter layers. Keeping them out of this model avoids turning Phase 5 into a render-resource refactor.
+
+## Phase 5 Exit Criteria
+
+Phase 5 can be considered complete once the project can say:
+
+- [ ] persisted, committed-live, and transient automation layers are named in code or clear read models
+- [ ] final render-value precedence is explicit and covered by tests
+- [ ] `RenderStateComposer` or its replacement consumes a layered input contract
+- [ ] reset/reload/preset behavior for transient overlays is centralized or clearly delegated
+- [ ] OSC overlay settle/commit behavior is explicit, including persistence policy
+- [ ] `RuntimeStore` remains durable-state focused and does not absorb transient automation policy
+- [ ] render-local temporal/feedback state remains separate from live parameter layering
+- [ ] subsystem docs and the architecture review reflect the final ownership model
+
+## Open Questions
+
+- Should committed live state remain physically in `RuntimeStore` for now, or move to a `CommittedLiveState` collaborator?
+- Should transient OSC overlay updates become app-level typed events, or stay source-local through `RuntimeServiceLiveBridge`?
+- Should overlay commit persistence be global, ingress-specific, or parameter-definition-driven?
+- What compatibility rule should apply when shader reload preserves a control key but changes parameter shape?
+- Should preset load clear all transient automation, or only automation that no longer maps to the loaded stack?
+- Should UI slider drags use the committed-live layer directly, or a short-lived transient layer that commits on release?
+
+## Short Version
+
+Phase 5 should make live values boring and explicit.
+
+Persisted state is durable truth. Committed live state is current-session/operator truth. Transient automation is high-rate overlay truth. Render consumes the composed result, and each layer has clear ownership, lifetime, persistence behavior, and reset/reload rules.

docs/subsystems/VideoBackend.md

@@ -300,16 +300,16 @@ Today the callback path effectively does this:
 
 1. DeckLink signals completion.
 2. The callback path asks for a new output buffer.
-3. The callback path enters the shared GL section.
+3. The callback path requests render-thread output production.
-4. The callback path renders the next frame.
+4. The render thread renders the next frame.
-5. The callback path reads it back.
+5. The render thread reads it back into the output buffer.
 6. The callback path schedules the next hardware frame.
 
 That path is visible in:
 
 - [OpenGLVideoIOBridge::RenderScheduledFrame](/c:/Users/Aiden/Documents/GitHub/video-shader-toys/apps/LoopThroughWithOpenGLCompositing/gl/pipeline/OpenGLVideoIOBridge.cpp:18)
 
-This couples output timing directly to render work.
+This no longer borrows the GL context from the callback thread, but it still couples output timing directly to render-thread work.
 
 ### Target Model
 
@@ -352,11 +352,11 @@ Recommended default policy for live playout:
 - prefer recency over completeness
 - drop stale capture frames instead of blocking render or output
 
-The current "skip upload if the GL bridge is busy" behavior is directionally correct for live timing:
+The current latest-input mailbox behavior is directionally correct for live timing:
 
 - [OpenGLVideoIOBridge::UploadInputFrame](/c:/Users/Aiden/Documents/GitHub/video-shader-toys/apps/LoopThroughWithOpenGLCompositing/gl/pipeline/OpenGLVideoIOBridge.cpp:11)
 
-But in the target architecture that decision should move out of GL lock acquisition and into an explicit backend-to-render handoff queue policy.
+The next improvement is to make the backend-to-render handoff policy more explicit in telemetry and playout scheduling, rather than treating it as only a render command mailbox detail.
 
 Suggested input metrics: