# chain_builder
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## Description
Assembles a sequence of Videobeaux program steps into a single automated workflow, chaining multiple transformations into one output.  
Allows creators to design multi-stage processing pipelines without running several commands manually.

## Purpose
`chain_builder` enables complex, multi-step Videobeaux workflows such as:
- running tonemap → gamma_fix → lut_apply → watermark in one sequence,  
- preparing media through multiple normalization steps,  
- automating creative pipelines for repeatable results,  
- building advanced transformations without shell scripts,  
- simplifying batch workflows across large media libraries.

This tool acts as a meta-controller that executes multiple Videobeaux programs in the specified order.

## How It Works
1. **Chain Input**  
   The `chain` argument accepts a structured definition of steps, typically referencing individual Videobeaux modules.
2. **Sequential Execution**  
   Each step in the chain is executed in the order provided—output from one step becomes input for the next.
3. **Intermediate Handling**  
   Temporary outputs may be generated (depending on implementation) before the final render is written.
4. **Final Output**  
   The result of the last program in the sequence is written to `-o`.

## Program Template
    videobeaux -P chain_builder \
      -i input.mp4 \
      -o output.mp4 \
      --chain VALUE

## Arguments

- **chain** — A structured representation of the ordered programs to run (e.g., a serialized list or JSON-like definition).

## Real World Example
    videobeaux -P chain_builder \
      -i myvideo.mp4 \
      -o chain_builder_styled.mp4 \
      --chain EXAMPLE

## Technical Notes
- Each chained step operates exactly as if run individually via Videobeaux.  
- Temporary intermediate files may be used depending on the complexity of the pipeline.  
- Errors in any step cause the chain to halt unless fault-tolerance logic is implemented.  
- Useful for combining CPU/GPU-heavy operations into one reproducible pipeline.

## Recommended Usage
- Full preprocessing pipelines (denoise → gamma fix → resize → LUT).  
- Automated delivery formatting for episodic or batch workflows.  
- Creative chains applying several stylizations in sequence.  
- Rapid prototyping of multi-step effects before writing scripts.

## Quality Tips
- Keep chains readable and modular; long chains are easier to maintain when broken into logical groups.  
- Validate each step independently before adding it to a chain.  
- Store commonly used chains in version control to maintain consistency.  
- Ensure your intermediate steps output in a high-quality format to avoid cumulative degradation.