What is "Vulcan"?

[Silly-V]

Vulcan.js is a file always included in documentation for CEP panels.

In simple terms, what is Vulcan.js for and what do people usually do with it?

I know a standard answer is, it helps talk to CC apps, and by the looks of the test panel CEP extension, it helps your extension talk to Creative Cloud.app, something called "CCXProcess.app" and Core Sync.app and finally CCLibrary.app.

Okay, so .. what can one do with these things using Vulcan, and what are they useful for?

[CarlosCanto]

don't quote me, if I remember correctly

Vulcan is to CEP as BridgeTalk is to JSX

to send messages between extensions? apps?

[Inventsable · Accepted solution]

Carlos' metaphor is pretty accurate. In general Vulcan allows you to do things like:

• Communicate between two CEP panels running in two separate host apps (without a backend or something like WebSockets)
• Programmatically launch an app from another (useful for cross-app workflows that are related like After Effects + PPRO, or PS + AI, AI + AE, early versions of Overlord from Battleaxe used Vulcan to send data between AI + AE)
• See if a particular app (or version) is installed
• Check if another CC app is currently running or focused
• Find any installation paths

I've personally not seen anything from Vulcan about CCXProcess but I'd be curious to see how it could interact with Core Sync or the CCLibrary.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, @Inventsable I remember that you pointed out that there is no equivalent in the UXP world, which would make interoperability difficult or impossible. Pinging @kerrishotts is there an ETA for a similar Technology/Tool?

[Inventsable]

Late reply but there are a variety of ways for interoperability in modern dev, including WebSockets which are supported in UXP. Vulcan wouldn't be needed to communicate between apps each containing a UXP plugin which communicate via some given port over a socket, though doing things like programmatically launching a given app (say you want a plugin in Illustrator to trigger After Effects or Photoshop to launch if not already open) might not be possible unless you can run shell or terminal commands.