By default, the node library is docked within each open composition window. You can undock the node library by dragging or double-clicking its title bar. While undocked, only a single node library will be displayed no matter how many composition windows are open. You can re-dock the node library by double-clicking its title bar.

You can hide the node library by clicking the circle within its title bar, or by pressing ⎋ once (if the search bar is empty) or twice (first to clear the search bar, then to close the node library). Once hidden, you can re-display it by selecting View > Node Library > Show Node Library or using ⌘↵. The same command or shortcut, ⌘↵, will put your cursor in the node library’s search box.

Whether you have left your library docked or undocked, visible or hidden, your preference will be remembered the next time you launch Vuo.

Each node has two names: a title and a class name. The node title is a quick description of a node’s function; it’s the most prominent name written on a node. The node class name is a categorical name that reveals specific information about a node; it appears directly below the node’s title.

Let’s use the Count node as an example. “Count” is the node’s title, which reveals that the node performs the function of counting. The class name is “vuo.math.count”. The class name reveals the following: Team Vuo created it, “math” is the category, and “count” is the specific function (and title name).

Depending on your level of familiarity with Vuo’s node sets and your personal preference, you might wish to browse nodes by their fully qualified family (“class”) name (e.g., “vuo.math.add”) or by their more natural human-readable names (“Add”).

You may select whichever display mode you prefer, and switch between the modes at your convenience; the editor will remember your preference between sessions. You can toggle between node titles and node class names using the menu items View > Node Library > Display by class or Display by name.

The Editing node settings section explains how to change node titles.

The node library makes the complete set of Vuo core nodes available for you to browse as you compose. By clicking on a node in the library, a description of the node will appear in the Node Documentation Panel below the node library. It describes the general purpose of the node as well as details that will help you make use of it. In addition to the Vuo core nodes, if you have access to pro nodes, you’ll see those displayed.

If you’re interested in exploring new opportunities, this is an ideal way to casually familiarize yourself with the building blocks available to you in Vuo.

At the top of the Node Library is a search bar. When you type in a search phrase, matching nodes will show up in the Node Library. Pressing ⎋ while in the search bar will clear out your selection and show the entire Node Library, as will deleting your search term by pressing ⌫.

You can search by node title, node class name, and a variety of keywords:

The search finds all nodes that match on the title or class name or keyword. For example, if you search for filter, the results include Filter Skeleton (which has filter in the title and class name), Allow First Event (which has filter as a keyword), and Adjust Image Filters (which is an image filter). If you wanted to narrow the search to nodes like the last one, you could search for image filter.

If the search doesn’t find a node that you expect to see: