UXP Support?

[Tomshiii]

This isn't an issue (or even really a priority at the moment), I'm just curious and thinking ahead.
With UXP development really starting to kick into gear and beginning to be accessible, and with the eventually depreciation of CEP; do you have any plans in the future to support UXP?

This repo has become so invaluable to me and my workflow and it would be a shame to be locked to a version of premiere in the future due to CEP depreciation. (plus with the benefits of UXP it'd be unfortunate to not be able to take advantage of them)

Thank you for your time, again, no pressure in any form, just curious!

[sebinside]

The good: UXP is a more modern framework that gets rid of the client/server split and just offers a simple way to define scripts, so it should be comparably easy to work with (or at least way easier than CEP, which is like legacy by design).

The bad: Currently, UXP for Premiere is limited. Looking at the available documented functions of the Premiere DOM, it seems that CEP is still way more powerful. AFAIK, Premiere is no priority for Adobe, so this still might come.

I would postpone a complete re-development of PremiereRemote until either
a) The UXP Premiere DOM is more comprehensive and offers an actual improvement over CEP
b) CEP is not supported anymore and kicked out of Premiere, which may happen sometimes between 2026-2028, depending on how to interpret this.

Unfortunately, when I started development in 2018, I also had way more time then today (I was a student back then, now a full-time software engineer). So although I'm willing to update (or redevelop) this tooling, I might not be able to. Not the promising answer you may have hoped for, but at least an honest one ;)

[sebinside]

So, I first did a manual feasibility study and then an automated one using Claude AI. I was worried that the UXP DOM ist still very limited, but fortunately, this seems to be wrong. This changes my perspective, and I might rewrite PremiereRemote some time later this year.

I attached the results.

Migration Feasibility Overview

Total Methods Analyzed: 75
✓ Directly Available in UXP: 58 methods (77%)
+ Alternative Solution Available: 8 methods (11%)
✗ No UXP Alternative: 9 methods (12%)

Total Achievable Functionality: 88% (66 out of 75 methods)

Symbol Legend

• ✓ Direct equivalent available in UXP API
• + Alternative solution available via UXP documentation/workarounds
• ✗ No equivalent or alternative found in UXP

Premiere DOM Method Usage Table

Premiere DOM Method	Called from index.tsx function	UXP Available	UXP Method Name	Notes
app.project.activeSequence	addCustomMarker, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile, selectCurrentMarker, deselectAll, targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, changeAudioLevels, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove, targetDefaultTracks, setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, targetTracks	✓	Project.getActiveSequence()	Returns Promise instead of direct access
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile, selectCurrentMarker, deselectAll, zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove, targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, targetTracks	✓	Sequence.getVideoTrack(index)	Must iterate using getVideoTrackCount() and getVideoTrack()
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks	changeAudioLevels, deselectAll, targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, targetTracks	✓	Sequence.getAudioTrack(index)	Must iterate using getAudioTrackCount() and getAudioTrack()
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks.numTracks	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile, selectCurrentMarker, deselectAll, targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, targetTracks	✓	Sequence.getVideoTrackCount()	Returns Promise instead of direct property
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks.numTracks	changeAudioLevels, targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, targetTracks	✓	Sequence.getAudioTrackCount()	Returns Promise instead of direct property
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips	zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove	✓	VideoTrack.getTrackItems()	Returns array instead of indexed access
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips.numItems	zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove	✓	VideoTrack.getTrackItems().length	Get length of returned array
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].isSelected	zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getIsSelected()	Returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].clips.numItems	changeAudioLevels	✓	AudioTrack.getTrackItems().length	Get length of returned array
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].clips[j].isSelected	changeAudioLevels	✓	AudioClipTrackItem.getIsSelected()	Returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[trackIndex].clips[clipIndex]	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	VideoTrack.getTrackItems()[index]	Access via array index after getting track items
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[1].setValue	zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().createSetValueAction()	Action-based approach instead of direct setter
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[1].getValue	zoom	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().getValueAtTime()	Returns Promise with current value
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[4].setValue	setRotate0, rotate	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().createSetValueAction()	Action-based approach for rotation property
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[4].getValue	rotate	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().getValueAtTime()	Returns Promise with current rotation value
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[0].setValue	xmove, ymove	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().createSetValueAction()	Action-based approach for position property
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[1].properties[0].getValue	xmove, ymove	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().getValueAtTime()	Returns Promise with current position value
app.project.activeSequence.frameSizeVertical	xmove, ymove, zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Sequence.getFrameSize().height	Get height from RectF object
app.project.activeSequence.frameSizeHorizontal	xmove, ymove, zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Sequence.getFrameSize().width	Get width from RectF object
app.project.activeSequence.getPlayerPosition	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile, selectCurrentMarker	✓	Sequence.getPlayerPosition()	Same method name, returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.getPlayerPosition.ticks	selectCurrentMarker	✓	Sequence.getPlayerPosition().ticks	Access ticks property on returned TickTime
app.project.activeSequence.getSettings	addCustomMarker, selectCurrentMarker	✓	Sequence.getSettings()	Same method name, returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.getSettings.videoFrameRate.ticks	addCustomMarker, selectCurrentMarker	✗	N/A	No direct videoFrameRate.ticks access in UXP
app.project.activeSequence.setPlayerPosition	addCustomMarker, selectCurrentMarker	✓	Sequence.setPlayerPosition()	Same method name, takes TickTime parameter
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].setTargeted	targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, targetTracks	✗	N/A	No targeting concept in UXP API
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].setTargeted	targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, targetTracks	✗	N/A	No targeting concept in UXP API
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].overwriteClip	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile	✓	SequenceEditor.createOverwriteItemAction()	Action-based approach instead of direct method
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile, selectCurrentMarker	✓	VideoTrack.getTrackItems()	Get track items from specific track
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips.numItems	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile, selectCurrentMarker	✓	VideoTrack.getTrackItems().length	Get length of track items array
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].name	loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getName()	Returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].end	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getEndTime()	Returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].start.seconds	saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getStartTime().seconds	Access seconds property on TickTime
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].start.ticks	selectCurrentMarker	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getStartTime().ticks	Access ticks property on TickTime
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].end.ticks	selectCurrentMarker	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getEndTime().ticks	Access ticks property on TickTime
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].setSelected	deselectAll	✓	TrackItemSelection.removeItem() / clearSelection()	Use selection management instead
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].clips[j].setSelected	deselectAll	✓	TrackItemSelection.removeItem() / clearSelection()	Use selection management instead
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[numTracks-1].clips[i].setSelected	selectCurrentMarker	✓	TrackItemSelection.addItem()	Use selection management instead
app.project.activeSequence.name	saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	✓	Sequence.name	Same property name
app.project.rootItem.children.numItems	addCustomMarker, zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	FolderItem.getItems().length	Returns Promise<ProjectItem[]>, get length
app.project.rootItem.children[i].name	addCustomMarker, zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	ProjectItem.name	Same property name
app.project.rootItem.children[i].children.numItems	addCustomMarker	✓	FolderItem.getItems().length	Cast to FolderItem and get items length
app.project.rootItem.children[i].children[j].name	addCustomMarker	✓	ProjectItem.name	Access name property on project item
app.project.rootItem.children[i]	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	FolderItem.getItems()[i]	Access via array index
app.project.name	saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	✓	Project.name	Same property name
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].clips[j].components[0].properties[1].getValue	changeAudioLevels	✓	AudioClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().getValueAtTime()	Action-based component access
app.project.activeSequence.audioTracks[i].clips[j].components[0].properties[1].setValue	changeAudioLevels	✓	AudioClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex().getParam().createSetValueAction()	Action-based component modification
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[2].properties	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getComponentChain().getComponentAtIndex()	Access component properties via chain
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[2].properties[1].setValue	applyDropShadowPreset	✓	ComponentParam.createSetValueAction()	Action-based property setting
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[2].properties[4].setValue	applyDropShadowPreset	✓	ComponentParam.createSetValueAction()	Action-based property setting
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[2].properties[0].setValue	applyBlurPreset	✓	ComponentParam.createSetValueAction()	Action-based property setting
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].components[2].properties[2].setValue	applyBlurPreset	✓	ComponentParam.createSetValueAction()	Action-based property setting
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].projectItem	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getProjectItem()	Returns Promise
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].projectItem.getProjectMetadata	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Metadata.getProjectMetadata()	Static method instead of instance method
app.project.activeSequence.videoTracks[i].clips[j].start.ticks	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getStartTime().ticks	Access ticks on TickTime
app.isDocumentOpen	zoomCurrentClipToFit	+	Project.getActiveProject()	Check if active project exists - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/host-info/
app.enableQE	enableQualityEngineering	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt.setLock	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks	✗	N/A	No track locking API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt.numItems	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt.getItemAt	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt.getItemAt.start.ticks	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getVideoTrackAt.getItemAt.addVideoEffect	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✓	VideoComponentChain.createAppendComponentAction()	Use component chain actions instead
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getAudioTrackAt	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qe.project.getActiveSequence.getAudioTrackAt.setLock	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks	✗	N/A	No track locking API in UXP
qe.project.getVideoEffectByName	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✓	VideoFilterFactory.createComponent()	Create components by matchName instead
trackItem.isSelected	zoomCurrentClipToFit, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer, zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove, changeAudioLevels	✓	VideoClipTrackItem.getIsSelected() / AudioClipTrackItem.getIsSelected()	Returns Promise
trackItem.setSelected	deselectAll, selectCurrentMarker	✓	TrackItemSelection.addItem() / removeItem()	Use selection management system
track.setTargeted	targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, targetTracks	✗	N/A	No targeting concept in UXP API
track.overwriteClip	addCustomMarker, loadMarkersFromCSVFile	✓	SequenceEditor.createOverwriteItemAction()	Action-based approach
qeTrack.setLock	setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks	✗	N/A	No track locking API in UXP
qeTrack.getItemAt	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✗	N/A	No Quality Engineering API in UXP
qeTrackItem.addVideoEffect	applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer	✓	VideoComponentChain.createAppendComponentAction()	Use component chain actions
property.setValue	zoomInTo120percent, setZoom100, zoom, setRotate0, rotate, xmove, ymove, changeAudioLevels, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset	✓	ComponentParam.createSetValueAction()	Action-based property setting
property.getValue	zoom, rotate, xmove, ymove, changeAudioLevels	✓	ComponentParam.getValueAtTime()	Returns Promise with value at time
projectItem.getProjectMetadata	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Metadata.getProjectMetadata()	Static method instead of instance
File.openDialog	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	+	localFileSystem.getFileForOpening()	Use UXP file picker dialogs - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
file.open	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	+	file.read()	Use UXP File API for reading - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
file.read	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	+	file.read()	Use UXP File API for reading - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
file.close	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	+	N/A	No explicit close needed in UXP - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
file.saveDlg	saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	+	localFileSystem.getFileForSaving()	Use UXP save dialog - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
file.write	saveCustomMarkerToTextFile	+	file.write()	Use UXP File API for writing - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/filesystem-operations/
ExternalObject.AdobeXMPScript	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Metadata.getXMPMetadata()	Use built-in metadata methods
new XMPMeta	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Metadata.getXMPMetadata()	Use built-in metadata methods
xmp.doesPropertyExist	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✗	N/A	No direct XMP property checking in UXP
xmp.getProperty	zoomCurrentClipToFit	✓	Metadata.getXMPMetadata()	Get full XMP as string instead
new Time	loadMarkersFromCSVFile	✓	TickTime.createWithSeconds()	Use TickTime constructors instead
alert	addCustomMarker	+	alert()	UXP supports alert() with enableAlerts manifest flag - https://developer.adobe.com/premiere-pro/uxp/resources/recipes/debug/

Migration Impact Assessment

High Severity - Complete Feature Loss (9 methods)

• Quality Engineering (QE) API: Entire qe.* namespace unavailable
  • Affects: setLockedForAllTracks, unlockTracks, applyDropShadowPreset, applyBlurPreset, applyWarpStabilizer
  • Impact: Advanced effect application and track locking functionality lost
• Track Targeting System: No targeting concept in UXP
  • Affects: targetAllTracks, untargetAllTracks, targetDefaultTracks, targetTracks
  • Impact: Track targeting workflows must be redesigned using selection-based approaches
• Direct Frame Rate Access: No videoFrameRate.ticks equivalent
  • Affects: addCustomMarker, selectCurrentMarker
  • Impact: Custom timing calculations need alternative approach

Medium Severity - Workaround Required (8 methods)

• File System Operations: UXP uses different permission-based file APIs
  • Affects: loadMarkersFromCSVFile, saveCustomMarkerToTextFile
  • Solution: Migrate to localFileSystem API with proper manifest permissions
• User Notifications: alert() requires manifest configuration
  • Affects: addCustomMarker
  • Solution: Enable enableAlerts feature flag in manifest
• Project State Detection: Different approach for checking document status
  • Affects: zoomCurrentClipToFit
  • Solution: Use Project.getActiveProject() to verify project availability

Low Severity - Direct Migration Available (58 methods)

• Core Premiere Functionality: Most sequence, track, and clip operations supported
• Action-Based Architecture: Property changes use createXXXAction() pattern
• Async/Promise Pattern: Methods return Promises instead of synchronous values
• Component System: Effect manipulation via ComponentChain and ComponentParam

[Tomshiii]

The loss of qe is definitely a tough pill to swallow, it's especially frustrating that anytime I see anyone mention a qe function and how losing it with UXP will impact them the default response from adobe is along the lines of; "well, it wasn't supported, don't understand why you'd need it, oh well". I wish they were a bit more open to hearing usecases for some of the functionality it offers/offered. ie
I believe ivan has mentioned having no access to track locking as well - shame it received no response.

I am glad to hear you're interested in providing UXP support, that's great news. I do hope adobe continues to expand UXP into the future and don't just stop short once they've achieved "backwards compatibility"

[sebinside]

Just a heads up, I'm currently rewriting PremiereRemote from scratch to support the new UXP framework (and get rid of many many many problems the original implementation had). The UXP branch contains a funtional but very, very early version - but the core functionality of making arbitrary UXP functions executable via HTTP calls is already there :)

[Tomshiii]

Hopefully I get some time in an upcoming weekend to have a play with it!!

[Tomshiii]

I finally had some free time recently to sit down and attempt to get the ball rolling with my own setup. It took me the better part of half a day just to figure out how to get the uxp plugin to actually appear in premiere (and then almost as long to figure out how to update the plugin once I've added functions or made changes lol) but once that was sorted things started working a little smoother 😅
Currently in the process of porting as many of my own functions over to uxp just to get a feel for things and I'm loving things so far!

[sebinside]

That's great to hear! As soon as the initial development is done, I will of course invest in better documentation (well, more than 0 documentation :D). I see a lot of potential in providing a unified yet customizable interface usable both for manual and MCP-based workflows. Adobe did also some baby steps here, but far more limited than what direct UXP manipulation can reach.