# Welcome to Exaplay 3

**Exaplay 3** is a professional media playback and composition system designed for stage productions, live events, and projection-mapping environments. It combines a high-performance C++ rendering engine with a modern browser-based interface and a real-time effects server.

![Exaplay 3 Main Interface](/files/SdEIhJ7VNOGiqcr4EyGB)

## What Exaplay 3 Does

Exaplay 3 lets you:

* **Play and compose** video, image, and live-input content across multiple screens simultaneously
* **Map projections** with geometric warping and edge blending (VIOSO integration)
* **Sync to timecode** — ArtNet, LTC, OSC — for frame-accurate cue execution
* **Trigger cues remotely** from the Operator or User control pages
* **Add real-time GPU effects** (color keying, luminance, custom shaders) without render freezes
* **Run unattended** with the Auto-Heal watchdog that resumes playback after crashes

## Three Components Working Together

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Exaplay 3                        │
│                                                     │
│  ┌──────────────┐   HTTP / WS  ┌────────────────┐  │
│  │  Vue 3 SPA   │◄────────────►│  C++ Engine    │  │
│  │  (Frontend)  │              │  (Backend)     │  │
│  └──────┬───────┘              └───────┬────────┘  │
│         │ HTTP / WS                    │            │
│         ▼                              ▼            │
│  ┌──────────────┐              ┌────────────────┐  │
│  │ Effects      │              │  Watchdog      │  │
│  │ Server (JS)  │              │  Service       │  │
│  └──────────────┘              └────────────────┘  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

| Component            | Technology                  | Role                         |
| -------------------- | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| **C++ Engine**       | C++17, Win32, OpenGL 4+     | Rendering, decoding, output  |
| **Vue 3 Frontend**   | Vue 3, Vite, Pinia          | Editing, operator & user UIs |
| **Effects Server**   | Node.js, Express, WebSocket | Real-time shader uniforms    |
| **Watchdog Service** | Windows Service             | Crash recovery, auto-heal    |

## Where to Start

| Goal                      | Go to                                                    |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Install Exaplay 3         | [Installation](/v3/getting-started/installation.md)      |
| Play your first video     | [Quick Start](/v3/getting-started/quick-start.md)        |
| Understand the interface  | [Interface Overview](/v3/user-interface/index.md)        |
| Configure outputs         | [Output Setup](/v3/configuration/outputs.md)             |
| Set up projection mapping | [Projection Mapping](/v3/features/projection-mapping.md) |
| Learn a specific workflow | [Workflows](/v3/workflows/index.md)                      |
| Fix a problem             | [Troubleshooting](/v3/troubleshooting/index.md)          |


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```
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```

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