Plan before writing
The CLI plan reports source document IDs, selected frames, dimensions, timing, required entitlement, entitlement status, and overwrite conflicts. The desktop export-plan tool reports the exact selection, timing, dimensions, layer IDs, requiredEntitlement, entitlement, and canExport decision for the current document. Set an expected frame count for loops so an accidental default frame selection fails before any file is written.
Check the desktop connection
CLI doctor discovers the standard local desktop MCP configuration path, or uses the path you provide or PIXELWALL_MCP_CONFIG. It verifies the loopback host, reaches the configured desktop launcher with a bounded ping, and reports the desktop version and protocol. An explicitly supplied path makes the connection required for a successful check; automatic discovery is optional and reports not-configured when absent. It never prints the connection token. Ordinary CLI file commands remain available.
Verify after writing
CLI verify reopens a .pixelwall project or decodes a PNG and reports byte count, dimensions, frame count, and transparency evidence; editable projects additionally report layers and clips. For desktop artifacts, verify the artifact checksum, save it to the approved folder, and reopen the saved file. Delivery integrity and artwork validity are separate checks.
Use compact regional edits
Rectangle, polygon, and run-length selections avoid sending a full canvas mask for a small recolor. Reusable selections are scoped to a document revision. Resolve the selection again after a revision changes; do not reuse an ID from another project or revision.
Review animation deliberately
Use contact sheets and native-size plus integer-enlarged previews to inspect timing, missing exposures, drifting anchors, baseline changes, and the final-to-first loop transition. Diagnostics report evidence; they do not decide whether an intentional pose or blink is artistic error.