Inspect compiled JSON

Use clipasm inspect when you need to debug compiled graph structure or feed ClipAsm’s supported inspection format into another tool. It is not part of the normal edit-and-render loop.

Before you start

Start with a source file that passes clipasm validate. The examples below use an initialized project’s main.clipasm.

1. Inspect standard output

clipasm inspect main.clipasm

The command writes compiled JSON to standard output without opening media, running FFmpeg or FFprobe, or executing an external program.

2. Create a directory for inspection files

mkdir -p local

3. Write a new JSON file

clipasm inspect main.clipasm --output local/compiled.json

The destination must not already exist. Choose a new path or remove the old debugging file before you repeat the command. inspect never overwrites a file.

4. Check the contract version

The document describes project settings, compiled operations, inputs, ordered outputs, named values, and source origins. It also describes known frame or sample counts and the configured publication path.

Inspection JSON is not .clipasm source, a render plan, or a preview. Read its format_version before consuming it in software, and reject versions your tool does not support.

See Compiled inspection JSON for the exact supported contract.