USD debugger · macOS

A debugger for USD stages.

StageTrace shows which opinion won, why it won, and where it came from—without manually correlating property stacks, layers, and composition arcs.

See what won. Trace why.

See real output Join the waitlist

Coming soon for macOS — CLI and visual debugger.

Windows and Linux CLI will follow.

stagetrace why Tests/Fixtures/diagnostic_local_over_reference.usda --prop /World/Referenced.test:size --format json resolved

Resolution trace

Why is the value 9?

Answer found

Winner/World/Referenced.test:size9Tests/Fixtures/diagnostic_local_over_reference.usda · authoredDefault · root

Weaker opinion/Model.test:size5Tests/Fixtures/slice4c_reference_model.usda · weaker · reference

The strongest value-bearing opinion matching OpenUSD resolve information wins; weaker and metadata-only specs remain visible as competitors.

Conservative next actionstagetrace edit <stage> --set /World/Referenced.test:size=<value> --override-out override.usdaAuthor into a session or override layer unless you own the source layer.

Fixture: Tests/Fixtures/diagnostic_local_over_reference.usdaJSON Schema

The debugging gap

Valid USD. Wrong result.

Start with the symptom

The stage opens. Validation may pass. The composed value is still not the value you expected.

Follow the evidence

StageTrace correlates the resolved result with authored opinions, layer strength, and the causal arc.

Act without guessing

Review the winner, the opinions it beat, and a conservative action supported by the current edit model.

Four useful questions

One tool surface, from inspection to automation.

Browse all 16 commands

Trace

Why did this value win?

Follow the resolved value back through the property stack to the authored opinion and composition arc that produced it.

$ stagetrace why

Inspect

What is actually in this stage?

Read prims, layers, metadata, timing, plugins, and composition issues from one consistent stage snapshot.

$ stagetrace inspect

Validate

Will this asset hold up in the pipeline?

Run native OpenUSD validators and return stable text or JSON that can be reviewed, gated, and automated.

$ stagetrace validate

Automate

Can the answer become part of a tool?

Use versioned schemas and deterministic output to carry the same diagnostic evidence into scripts, reports, and CI.

$ stagetrace watch Tests/Fixtures/slice4_opinion_strong.usda -- why Tests/Fixtures/slice4_opinion_strong.usda --prop /World.test:size --format json

Evidence behind the answer

Trust is built into the contract.

Schema validation proves shape. Deterministic fixtures, coverage tracking, and direct OpenUSD comparisons support semantic correctness.

OpenUSD 26.05Build target

1.0Versioned JSON schemas

ParityDirect OpenUSD differential checks

1.0.1AOUSD Core Specification alignment cases

Exhaustive tests cover the currently supported matrix, including AOUSD Core Specification 1.0.1 alignment cases. This is tested alignment—not certification or blanket specification compliance.

Local by design

The stage stays on your machine.

StageTrace analyzes local USD files and emits local results. Your layers, textures, paths, and assets are not uploaded to a hosted analysis service.

macOS first

CLI and visual debugger, followed by Windows and Linux CLI releases.

Join the waitlist

Bring the USD problem that keeps coming back.

Tell us what takes too long today. Leave an email if you want an invitation; workflow feedback can be shared without one.

This form stores only what you enter—never your USD files or asset paths.