Compstronaut adds browser‑style back and forward navigation to After Effects, letting you jump to previously visited compositions and timeline positions via a live panel that shows comp names and timecodes.
Developed by Scott Black.
About Compstronaut
Compstronaut is an After Effects panel that records a navigation history as you work, enabling you to step back or forward through compositions and timeline positions. The live panel displays each entry with its composition name and timecode, and clicking an entry opens that point instantly. History can be expanded to a maximum of 150 entries, and separate buttons allow both timeline navigation (Navigate Back/Forward) and composition navigation (Previous/Next Composition). Audio cues and mouse‑linked notifications are provided for each action and can be toggled individually. The plugin includes pre‑configured Stream Deck profiles for the Classic, Mini, XL, and Plus models, allowing physical control of navigation commands. Settings are accessed via a Toggle Settings button, where you can adjust history length and feedback options.
Features
- Back and Forward controls that retrace your navigation steps, browser-style
- Live panel showing the full navigation trail with comp names and timecodes
- Instant Jump: click any history entry to open that composition and time
- Configurable working history, expandable up to a maximum of 150 entries
- Separate timeline navigation (Navigate Back/Forward) and composition navigation (Previous/Next Composition) buttons
- Audio and visual feedback via sound cues and mouse-linked notifications, toggleable per action
- Pre-configured Stream Deck profiles for Classic, Mini, XL, and Plus
Best for
After Effects artists who work with many nested compositions and need a quick way to retrace steps between compositions and timeline positions.
Frequently asked questions
Which After Effects versions does Compstronaut support?
Compstronaut supports recent After Effects releases: on macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) the 2023‑2026 versions, and on Windows the 2024‑2026 versions. Required OS versions are Windows 10 (64‑bit) or later and macOS 13 Ventura or later.
Does Compstronaut support Stream Deck?
Yes. Compstronaut includes pre‑configured profiles for Stream Deck Classic, Mini, XL, and Plus, allowing its navigation commands to be triggered from the device.
How many entries can Compstronaut’s history hold?
The history can store up to 150 entries, which can be increased through the settings panel.
Can I turn off Compstronaut’s sound cues?
Audio feedback can be disabled per action in the settings panel, allowing you to turn off sound cues while keeping visual notifications if desired.
Is Compstronaut free to use?
The catalog lists Compstronaut as free, but licensing terms may change; verify the current status on the developer’s aescripts page before downloading.
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