general principles for initializing nodes with externalized properties?

[edmundchong]

I was wondering what are the general rules for initializing nodes if we want to set some externalizable property of the node before it becomes active? For example, I try to set the Address property in this OSC.SendMessage node but it initializes with the default value within the node (null), and throws an error.

I've run into this issue time and again without fully understanding the solution. Would it be the same issue here:

https://github.com/orgs/bonsai-rx/discussions/1367
https://groups.google.com/g/bonsai-users/c/lEj2W_5qgfQ/m/M_hXa_OkAAAJ

--> though I'm not quite sure if I understand the explanation, and in my example there's no branching to speak of :)