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Concepts

Show vs edit mode

The two modes Moonshine operates in and the safeties between them.

Moonshine operates in two modes: edit (during prep) and show (during a live performance). The difference is what’s safe to do and what isn’t. Get this wrong and you might cut a vertex during a song.

Edit mode

Edit mode is the default. You’re prepping the show — building scenes, warping projectors, painting masks, ordering playlists. Every change is immediate and broadcasts to all operators.

Edit mode is where you spend most of your collaborative time. It assumes:

  • You’re prepping, not running a live show
  • Operators are coordinating in real time, likely in the same room or on a headset
  • Mistakes are recoverable — undo works, and a wrong drag doesn’t break the show

Show mode

Show mode is the live state. Scenes don’t change unless a cue fires. Edits to alignment, masks, or routing are gated behind a confirmation — the assumption is that any unintentional change during a live show is dangerous.

In show mode:

  • The viewport defaults to “what’s projecting right now” — no behind-the-scenes editing surface
  • Cue triggers are the primary action — playlists advance, CueGrid buttons fire transitions
  • Direct edits to warp/keystone/mask require an explicit “Edit live” toggle that puts you back into edit semantics on a per-resource basis
  • The transport bar is the primary UI element — not the editing panels

Why two modes

The interesting moment is the show. If editing during show used the same affordances as editing during prep, the cost of a misclick gets very high very fast. Show mode is the safety net.

You can flip between modes mid-session. The state of the show isn’t tied to a mode — the same scenes, cues, and resources exist in both. Mode is about what UI you’re presented with and what guards are in place.

Switching modes

The mode toggle lives in the top bar. You can switch any time. There is no “saving” required — switching to show mode doesn’t commit anything, and switching back to edit mode doesn’t lose anything.

Multiple operators can be in different modes simultaneously. One person in show mode driving cues while another person in edit mode tweaks an upcoming scene is a totally valid workflow.

Mode and locks

In show mode, locks are stricter. The “Request Access” handoff still works but has a confirmation step — the lock holder must explicitly accept to hand over a resource during a live show. This is to prevent a rushed handoff that accidentally breaks alignment mid-cue.

In edit mode, the lock semantics are the looser model described in Collaboration.

When you don’t need show mode

If you’re doing a one-operator setup with no live cueing — maybe you’re testing alignment, or it’s a static install with no cues — you can stay in edit mode the whole time. Show mode is for when there’s a moment that matters and you need the safety; otherwise it’s just extra ceremony.