02 - Sanity Checker

Overview

Sanity Checker is a Python-based production validation tool built for Houdini to help artists and technical directors quickly audit large, complex scenes. It centralizes and exposes critical scene parameters in a single, searchable interface, allowing users to verify, debug, and edit scene data without manually diving into node networks.

The tool automatically scans a Houdini scene and collects data from key node types including lights, Geometry Nodes, Alembic caches, Arnold Textures Nodes, and render operators (ROPs). This information is then organized into a structured table-based UI where each parameter is clearly exposed and editable in real time.

Designed for large-scale production environments, Sanity Checker improves scene reliability by making inconsistencies immediately visible: such as incorrect render settings, missing assignments, or out-of-range values, before they reach rendering or publishing stages.

Key Features

• Scene-wide parameter auditing across lights, geometry, Alembic, ROPs, and cameras

• Centralized spreadsheet-style UI for fast inspection of large datasets

• Editable parameters directly in context, reducing back-and-forth navigation in node graphs

• Custom rule-based validation system for enforcing studio or show-specific standards

• Search and filtering tools to isolate specific node types or attributes quickly

• Scalable architecture designed to handle heavy production scenes efficiently

Impact

The tool significantly reduces manual QA time in complex Houdini scenes, helping artists catch issues early, enforce consistency across shots, and streamline the handoff between departments such as lighting, FX, and rendering.