As I continue documenting my journey into developing plugins for digital audio workstations (DAWs), this phase turned out differently than I expected. Instead of trying to learn about plugin creation, my time was devoted to mastering new programming concepts like databases, SQL, and ORMs. While it may seem unrelated to audio plugin development, this detour has broadened my understanding of software engineering as a whole—and every skill learned is a step forward.

Unexpected Turns in the Journey

This 3rd phase of my schooling was shorter than I anticipated, and with school demanding most of my attention, I couldn’t dedicate much time to hands-on plugin development. Instead, I found myself diving deep into the world of databases and learning how to work with SQL and ORMs. These are tools that help software interact with data efficiently—critical knowledge for any developer, even in audio-focused projects.

How Databases Relate to Plugins

At first glance, databases might seem irrelevant to music plugins, but I’ve started to see connections. For instance, imagine a DAW plugin that stores and recalls complex presets or user preferences. Understanding how to design and manage data efficiently is a skill that could directly enhance plugin functionality in the future.

Even though I haven’t written any audio-related code this phase, I know these foundational skills will help me build more robust, user-friendly tools when I return to plugin development.

Adapting to Learning Detours

One of the biggest lessons from this phase has been learning how to adapt. Every programming journey has its unexpected twists, and while I initially felt disappointed about not progressing in plugin development, I realized the value of stepping back to strengthen my overall skills. Each piece of knowledge adds to the bigger picture, preparing me for more complex challenges ahead.

Looking Ahead to Phase Four

I’m determined to return to plugin development with renewed focus in the next phase. My goal is to revisit JUCE, C++ and XCode, and work on building my first basic plugin. I’m especially excited to apply debugging techniques I learned earlier and explore how to integrate the skills I’ve gained recently into my projects.

Closing Thoughts

While this phase didn’t go as planned, it reinforced an essential part of any learning journey: patience and persistence. Not every step will be directly aligned with your goals, but each one contributes to the bigger picture. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it in the next phase of my DAW plugin journey.

Stay tuned for Part 4, where I’ll share updates on my progress and (hopefully!) dive back into hands-on plugin creation.

Unexpected Turns: Learning to Build Audio Plugins for DAWs (Part 3)