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Compstronaut
Browser-style back and forward navigation for After Effects - jump to previous compositions and timeline positions.
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EULASCOTT BLACK VISUAL EFFECTS & MOTION GRAPHICS - COMPSTRONAUT - END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT Copyright (c) 2025, Scott Black End User License Agreement for the “Compstronaut” Adobe After Effects Extension 1. Introduction & Definitions This End User License Agreement (“EULA”) is a legal agreement between you (the “User” or “Licensee”) and Scott Black operating as “Scott Black Visual Effects & Motion Graphics” (the “Developer” or “Licensor”). This EULA governs the use of the software product “Compstronaut” (including all components, updates, and associated materials, collectively the “Software”). By installing, activating, or using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this EULA and agree to be bound by its terms. If you do not agree to these terms, do not install or use the Software. Definitions: For purposes of this EULA, the following terms have the meanings given below: * Software: The “Compstronaut” extension for Adobe After Effects, which includes a CEP panel, optional bundled native C++ helper plugin (SBShortcutManager), sound-effect packs (“Kalimba Bottle”, “Halous”), notification palette, and keyboard-driven workflow features including Spaces and location-jumping. The Software may include third-party libraries (provided with their own licenses for your review). * License: The limited license rights granted to the User to install and use the Software under the conditions of this EULA, as evidenced by a valid license key obtained through “aescripts + aeplugins”. * User (Licensee): The individual or entity who has lawfully purchased or obtained a license to use the Software and thereby agreed to this EULA. * Developer (Licensor): Scott Black (trading as Scott Black Visual Effects & Motion Graphics), the sole author and owner of the Software. * “aescripts + aeplugins”: The authorized online distributor of the Software, through which license keys are sold and delivered for activation. Data & Privacy: Beyond the license validation with “aescripts + aeplugins”, the Software stores no personal data, sends nothing off-device, and does not record keystrokes except for use inside Adobe After Effects. Under GDPR, you have the right to access and erasure of any personal data related to licensing. The bundled sound-effect packs are licensed for redistribution inside the plugin only; no GPL code is included. Third-party components included in the Software are subject to their own licenses (provided separately), which remain in full force and effect in addition to this EULA. Health & Accessibility: The Software plays audible feedback and may override keyboard shortcuts. Users who rely on assistive technology should test compatibility carefully. Keep volumes at safe levels to prevent hearing damage. 2. Grant of License Subject to the terms and conditions of this EULA and your purchase of a valid license, the Developer hereby grants you a personal, limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable License to install and use the Software for your own use (whether personal or commercial projects). This License permits you to use the Software as a plugin or extension in Adobe After Effects on compatible systems, provided that: * Activation: You activate the Software with a genuine license key obtained from “aescripts + aeplugins”. The Software may require internet access on first use (and periodically) to verify the validity of your license key. * Scope of Use: You may use the Software for lawful purposes in the course of your personal or professional work. You may install the Software on one or more of your devices, provided that you are the primary user and only one user uses the licensed copy at a time (in accordance with AEScripts licensing terms). * Single-User License: This license is for single-user use only. Multi-seat, floating, or volume licenses are not provided. * Backups: You may make a reasonable number of backup copies of the Software installer or package for archival purposes, as long as such copies are not provided to any third party and remain subject to this EULA. This grant of License is a license to use the Software, not a transfer of ownership. All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved by the Developer. 3. Restrictions on Use You agree to use the Software only as permitted in this EULA. Any violation of the following restrictions will constitute a breach of this EULA and may result in termination of your License. You shall not: * Reverse Engineer or Modify: Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code or underlying ideas or algorithms of the Software’s binary components (except to the limited extent that applicable law expressly permits such activity notwithstanding this limitation). You also shall not modify, adapt, or create derivative works based on the Software. * Redistribute or Resell: Copy, distribute, publish, rent, lease, lend, or otherwise transfer or make the Software (or any activation or license keys) available to any other person or entity. The Software is licensed solely for your use; you may not sublicense, assign, or share your rights under this EULA without prior written consent from the Developer. * Sound Pack Re-use: Use the bundled sound-effect packs outside of the plugin or redistribute them separately. * Circumvent Licensing: Bypass, disable, or circumvent any technological measures or license enforcement mechanisms in the Software. This includes prohibitions against using counterfeit or unauthorized license keys, or otherwise using the Software without proper activation through “aescripts + aeplugins”. * Remove Notices: Remove, alter, or obscure any proprietary notices (including copyright, trademark, or attributions) contained within the Software or its associated documentation. * Unauthorized Use: Use the Software in any manner that violates any applicable law or regulation, or use it for any purpose not intended by the Developer. For example, you must not use the Software to infringe the rights of others or in a way that could harm software security or stability beyond the Software’s intended use in Adobe After Effects. * No High-Risk Use: The Software is not designed for use in the operation of nuclear facilities, life-support systems, aircraft navigation or communication systems, or any other environment in which the failure of the Software could lead to death, personal injury, or severe physical or environmental damage. 4. Prohibition on External Interfacing You shall not, without explicit prior written permission from the Developer, attempt to maliciously or unauthorizedly interface, integrate, connect, or otherwise utilize external tools, scripts, software, or services with any component of the Software, including but not limited to the CEP panel or the C++ helper plugin (SBShortcutManager) and its associated functionality. You expressly agree not to use, permit, or facilitate malicious third-party applications, tools, scripts, or extensions to access, intercept, or otherwise utilize the Software’s internal communications or functionalities for unauthorized purposes. Any unauthorized attempts to maliciously interface external software or tools with the Software constitute a material breach of this EULA, immediately terminating your license and potentially subjecting you to liability for damages. 5. Ownership and Intellectual Property Rights All title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in and to the Software (excluding third-party components) (including but not limited to all original code, graphics, designs, algorithms, trade secrets, and documentation) are and shall remain the sole property of the Developer. The Software may include or rely on third-party libraries or open-source components that are licensed to the Developer under separate terms. All intellectual property rights in such third-party components remain with their respective owners, and nothing in this EULA shall be construed as assigning or transferring ownership of those components to either you or the Developer. Purchasing a license or using the Software does not transfer any ownership of the Software or its components to you. Rather, you are granted a limited right to use the Software under the terms of this EULA. You acknowledge that the Software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws and international treaties. The name “Compstronaut”, the Software’s logo (if applicable), and the brand “Scott Black Visual Effects & Motion Graphics” are used by the Developer as distinctive identifiers in connection with the Software. Nothing in this EULA grants the User any rights to use these names, logos, or associated branding, and all goodwill arising from use of the Software belongs exclusively to the Developer. Nothing in this EULA shall be construed as granting, by implication or otherwise, any license or right to use any of the Developer’s intellectual property except as expressly provided herein. The Developer reserves all rights not expressly granted to you in this EULA. You agree that you will not challenge or contest the Developer’s ownership of the Software or its intellectual property. 6. Disclaimer of Warranty USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. The Software is provided to you “as is” and “as available”, without warranty of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, the Developer disclaims and excludes all warranties, conditions, and representations, whether express, implied, or statutory, with respect to the Software and any accompanying materials. This disclaimer includes, but is not limited to: * Implied Warranties: All implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, and any warranties arising out of course of dealing or usage of trade are expressly disclaimed. You assume all responsibility for selecting the Software to achieve your intended results and for the installation, use, and results obtained from the Software. * No Guarantee of Performance: The Developer does not warrant that the Software will meet your requirements or expectations, or that the operation of the Software will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. You understand that the Software (including the bundled C++ helper plugin (SBShortcutManager) interacting with your operating system) may interact with your system at a low level; the Developer makes no guarantee that it is free of bugs or vulnerabilities, or that it will not conflict with other software or hardware on your system. * No Other Obligations: No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from the Developer or through the use of the Software shall create any warranty not expressly stated in this EULA. The Developer provides no warranties regarding any results that may be obtained from the use of the Software or that any defects will be corrected. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. If any legally required warranties exist and cannot be disclaimed, then to the extent permitted by law, the duration of such warranties is limited to the minimum period required by law. 7. Limitation of Liability To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall the Developer be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with your use of or inability to use the Software, even if the Developer has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation of liability applies to any claims for damages arising from, but not limited to: * Data Loss or Corruption: Loss of data, loss of content, restoration costs, or corruption of files or information arising from the use of the Software. * System Issues: Any damage to your computer system, operating system, other software, or hardware that may result from using the Software (including any instability, crashes, or performance issues in Adobe After Effects or your system due to the Software). * Loss of Profits or Business: Loss of revenue, profits, business, opportunity, or anticipated savings, or any business interruption or downtime. * Other Losses: Any other indirect or consequential losses or damages of whatever nature. In any case, the Developer’s total cumulative liability under any provision of this EULA (or related to the Software) shall be limited to the amount actually paid by you for the Software license. If you have paid no fee (for example, if the Software was obtained for free or as a trial), the Developer’s total liability shall not exceed the amount actually paid by you for the Software license. If you have not paid any fee for the Software (for example, in the case of a free, trial, or promotional copy), the Developer shall have no liability whatsoever. These limitations and exclusions of liability shall apply even if any remedy fails of its essential purpose. You acknowledge that the license fee (if any) reflects this allocation of risk and the limitation of liability specified herein. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, the above limitation may not apply to you in full, in such cases, the Developer’s liability shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by law. 8. Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Developer, its affiliates, distributors, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, expenses, and fees (including reasonable legal fees) that such parties may incur as a result of or arising from: (a) your use or misuse of the Software; (b) your violation of any term of this EULA; or (c) your violation of any law or regulation or the rights of any third party in connection with your use of the Software. This indemnification obligation means you will reimburse the Developer and related parties for any losses or costs (including lawyer’s fees and court costs) they incur due to claims caused by your actions or use of the Software. The Developer reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you. In such case, you agree to cooperate with the Developer in defending such matter. You shall not settle any such claim or matter without the prior written consent of the Developer. This section will remain in effect even after termination of this EULA. 9. Termination This EULA is effective from the time you accept it (or first install or use the Software) and will remain in effect until terminated as provided herein. Your rights under this License will terminate automatically and immediately without notice from the Developer if you fail to comply with any provision of this EULA. The Developer may also, at its sole discretion, terminate this EULA and revoke your License at any time with or without prior notice to you, including but not limited to if the Developer discontinues the distribution or support of the Software. Upon any termination of this EULA for any reason: * You must immediately cease all use of the Software and uninstall or destroy all copies of the Software in your possession or control. * The provisions of this EULA that by their nature should survive termination (such as Disclaimer of Warranty, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Governing Law, and Miscellaneous provisions) shall continue in full force and effect. * Termination will not limit any of the Developer’s other rights or remedies at law or in equity in case of your breach of this EULA prior to termination. * If termination is due to your breach of the EULA, the Developer reserves the right to disable your license key or take other technical measures to prevent further use of the Software by you. No refund of any fees will be given in case of termination due to breach. If you wish to terminate this EULA voluntarily, you may do so by uninstalling and ceasing all use of the Software (though no refund will be provided if outside any applicable refund policy of “aescripts + aeplugins”). 10. Governing Law This EULA and any dispute arising out of or relating to this EULA or the Software shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom (specifically the laws of England and Wales), without regard to its conflict of law principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) does not apply to this EULA. You expressly agree that the courts of the United Kingdom (and, in particular, the appropriate courts located in England and Wales) shall have exclusive jurisdiction to resolve any claim, dispute, or matter arising out of or in connection with this EULA or your use of the Software. You hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objections (including objections based on inconvenient forum) to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts. The parties agree to attempt online dispute resolution before proceeding to formal legal action where feasible. If you are a UK consumer, you have statutory cooling-off rights under UK consumer law. If you are using the Software in a jurisdiction where all or some of the provisions of this EULA are not enforceable, to the extent that it is possible, the parties agree that the governing law shall be deemed to be the law of a jurisdiction that is enforceable (such as the jurisdiction of the User’s residence), but the intent is that this Section 10 shall to the fullest extent possible enforce the choice of UK law and venue as stated. 11. Export Compliance You agree to comply with all applicable export laws and regulations of the United Kingdom, United States, and any other relevant jurisdiction and shall not export or re-export the Software to any embargoed countries or denied parties. 12. Miscellaneous Support and Updates: The Software is provided as is, and while the Developer may (at their sole discretion) release updates, patches, bug fixes, or provide customer support or assistance from time to time, nothing in this EULA shall be interpreted as an obligation to do so. Your purchase of the Software does not guarantee any future updates or continued availability of the Software. However, the Developer may, on a goodwill basis, address issues and provide improvements when possible. Third-Party Components: The Software includes Qt libraries under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3 (LGPLv3). The Qt frameworks are dynamically linked. To comply with LGPLv3, you may replace or upgrade these Qt frameworks by removing or overriding the frameworks under Contents/Frameworks/ with your own build of Qt. The Software may include other third-party software libraries or open-source components, all provided under their own respective licenses, which are supplied with the Software (for example, in documentation or a “Third-Party Licenses” file). Those licenses apply to the respective components independently of this EULA. Nothing in this EULA limits your rights or obligations under those third-party licenses. However, with respect to your use of the Software as a whole, this EULA will govern your use of the Software in its entirety. Severability: If any provision of this EULA is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effect the intent of the parties, and the remaining provisions of this EULA shall remain in full force and effect. The invalidity or non-enforceability of any part of this EULA shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the EULA. Consumer rights: Nothing in this EULA limits any statutory rights of a consumer that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including rights under the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015. Entire Agreement: This EULA constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Developer regarding the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings or agreements (whether oral or written) relating to the Software. No amendment or modification of this EULA will be binding unless made in writing and signed by the Developer. In entering this agreement, neither party has relied on any statement, representation, warranty, or agreement of the other party except as expressly set forth in this EULA. No Waiver: The failure of the Developer to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this EULA shall not operate as a waiver of that right or provision, nor shall any single or partial exercise of a right preclude any further or future exercise of that or any other right. Any waiver of any provision of this EULA will be effective only if in writing and signed by the Developer. Assignment: You may not assign, transfer, or sublicense this EULA or any of your rights or obligations under it, whether voluntarily, by operation of law, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Developer. Any attempted assignment or transfer without such consent will be null and void. The Developer may assign or transfer this EULA (in whole or in part) at its discretion, including to any successor or new owner of the Software or in the event of a merger or acquisition. This EULA will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their permitted successors and assigns. No Partnership: Nothing in this EULA shall be interpreted as creating an agency, partnership, joint venture, or any other form of joint enterprise between you and the Developer. You and the Developer are independent parties; you are licensing the Software as an end user and no employment or agency relationship is intended or created by this EULA. Feedback licence: If you provide the Developer with ideas, suggestions or feedback about the Software, you grant the Developer a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free right to use and commercialise that feedback for any purpose without obligation to you. Third-party Trademarks: “Adobe”, “After Effects”, and “aescripts + aeplugins” are trademarks of their respective owners. This software and its developer are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Headings: Section titles and headings in this EULA are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect on the interpretation of the terms. 13. No Affiliation and Non-Endorsement The Software, its name, assets, and any design or functionality are independent creations of the Developer. The Developer is not, and has never been, affiliated with or endorsed by Electronic Arts (EA), Westwood Studios (including the Command & Conquer franchise), Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard (including the StarCraft franchise), King, Gas Powered Games (including the Supreme Commander franchise), Square Enix, THQ, or any of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or successors. Any resemblance to these or other real-time strategy titles or companies is coincidental or based on lawful inspiration, and no sponsorship, endorsement, or association is intended or implied. All trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, and any other intellectual property referenced herein belong to their respective owners, and are used solely for purposes of identification and clarity. Nothing in this EULA grants you any rights to use such third-party marks, nor does it imply any relationship with their owners. 14. Legal Review Disclaimer This EULA is intended to clearly define your rights and obligations in using the Software, but it may not address every specific legal issue or jurisdictional nuance. You are encouraged to seek independent legal advice if you have any questions or concerns about the terms and conditions of this EULA. By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to read and understand this agreement, and to consult with legal counsel if desired, before agreeing to it. While the Developer has made efforts to draft this EULA to be fair and comprehensive, it should not be considered legal advice to you. The User is responsible for ensuring that their use of the Software complies with all applicable laws and regulations. If you are unsure about any provision of this EULA or how it applies to you, please obtain professional legal guidance. Relying solely on this document without such advice is at your own risk. By installing or using “Compstronaut”, you (the User) acknowledge that you have read this EULA, understand it, and agree to be bound by all of its terms and conditions. If you do not agree with the terms of this EULA, you must not install, activate, or use the Software and should promptly uninstall and delete any copies of the Software in your possession.Updated: Nov 6, 2025 11:47 AM
Finally, a True Back Button for After Effects
Compstronaut is the missing navigation upgrade for motion designers: an interactive, browser-style history panel that tracks every composition switch and timeline jump as you work. Instantly retrace your creative steps with keyboard or mouse control. Move backwards, forward, or jump to any moment in your session just like a web browser.
No more hunting through the project panel or composition tabs to find your previous position. Compstronaut keeps a living history of your workflow, always ready for you to revisit or branch off as inspiration strikes.
History On Command
- One-Click History: Every composition switch and timeline jump is automatically captured. Open any previous comp or time in a single click or with a keyboard shortcut.
- Back and Forward Controls: Seamlessly retrace your steps, just like hitting the back button in a browser.
- Live Panel: See your full navigation trail at a glance, complete with comp names and timecodes.
- Lightning Fast: Eliminate wasted time navigating; Compstronaut saves you time, letting you bounce between nested comps and edits faster without losing context.
Key Features
- Browser-Style History: Interactive timeline of your project session.
- Advanced UI: A fully animated panel grows and reacts gracefully in real-time to your shortcuts, scrolls and clicks.
- Instant Jump: Click any entry in your history to open that comp and time instantly.
- Session Momentum: Your navigation feed grows as you work, giving you a living map of your project for reviews and revisions.
- Global Shortcuts: Move backwards and forward without touching the mouse. Assign your preferred shortcuts for maximum speed. Panel visibility is optional - Compstronaut is designed for rapid, pro-level, keyboard-first workflows.
- Audio & Visual Feedback: Sound cues and mouse-linked notifications keep you aware of each action, all individually toggle-able per-action.
- A complimentary SFX soundboard, Kalimba Bottle, is included to help build muscle memory with the new controls for After Effects facilitated by Compstronaut. You can also assign your own custom sound effects.
- History Configuration: Expand the possible number of working history entries up to a maximum of 150.
- Configurable Tracking: Choose a custom sensitivity for tracking changes in CTI (current time indicator) positions, including all possible changes, or only composition switches.
- Persistence: Your navigation history persists between After Effects sessions, and even between different project files. Remain in context even when switching between projects.
Synergy with Control Groups
Compstronaut and Control Groups are designed to work together, providing a seamless, deeply integrated workflow in After Effects.
- Unified Navigation History: Navigation events triggered within Control Groups (such as jumping to bookmarked timeline locations, or navigating using layers) are automatically tracked in Compstronaut's session history. Every jump in your project becomes part of your accessible navigation feed.
- Shared Notification Layer: Both extensions use the same floating, mouse-linked notification system to provide real-time visual and audio feedback for every action.
- Complementary Workflow: Move between compositions and layer groups with Control Groups, then retrace your steps or instantly revisit any moment using Compstronaut's browser-style history. Each tool is powerful individually, but together they deliver a fundamental workflow upgrade, all fully drivable through global keyboard shortcuts.
For the best After Effects workflow, use Compstronaut and Control Groups side by side. This pairing delivers a monumental speed increase, letting you move between ideas, assets, and edits with a level of fluidity that simply is not possible natively. Once you have used both, you will wonder how you ever worked without them.
SB Shortcut Manager Support
Our advanced, native companion plugin enables the extension's most robust and powerful shortcut handling. The bundled plugin allows extension control and use with definable global shortcuts, dramatically enhancing speed and convenience.
The development of this plugin was in service of creating a user experience platform for faster, optimised workflows. Saving time is a serious value proposition in and of itself; every second saved furthers your value and offering as a designer to clients.
Compatibility
Adobe After Effects
Versions tested and supported:
- Apple macOS (Intel processors): 2023, 2024, and 2025 releases.
- Apple macOS (Apple Silicon processors): 2023, 2024, and 2025 releases.
- Microsoft Windows: 2024 and 2025 releases.
Note: Releases from calendar-year 2022 may operate successfully but have not been validated. Versions from 2021 and older are not supported.
Note: performance may vary on older hardware.
Operating System
Minimum required operating system versions:
- Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) or later.
- Apple macOS 13 Ventura or later.
One Small Step for After Effects
Compstronaut gives professionals a direct, browser-inspired way to move through their ideas and animations without ever breaking momentum or losing context. Experience history on command, shortcut-driven navigation, and time savings that add up with every project.
Discussions
Want to talk about it?
Head over to r/aescripts to chat with fellow users about this product.
Need Support?
Please open a support ticket to be connected directly with the author of this product
Version History
1.0.3 -
Nov 7, 2025
- Updated the aescripts licensing framework to the latest version.
1.0.2 -
Nov 4, 2025
Compatibility
After Effects
2025, 2024, 2023