[Gambas-user] Question: Is it possible to build 'plugins/add ons' for Gambas applications

[Willy Raets]

On Wed, 2012-10-03 at 08:26 +0930, Bruce wrote:
> On Tue, 2012-10-02 at 23:03 +0200, Willy Raets wrote:
> > Hi.
> > 
> > I recently had a request of someone if it is possible to build a
> > plugin/add on for my existing Gambas application.
> > 
> > I like the idea, as it would give extra function to my application.
> > 
> > So would it be possible to write applications that, once installed, add
> > something to my application, like the add ons for Firefox for example.
> > 
> > Would this be possible with Gambas?
> > If so, how to set up the main application to except these plugins/add
> > ons?
> > 
> > I anyone could point me into the good direction it would be much
> > appreciated.
> > 
> > Willy
> > 
> > P.S. Would it be possible to have plugins/add ons written in for example
> > Java added to a Gambas application? Or am I going to far in my mind :)
> > 
> 
> Hi Willy,
> 
> The concept is feasible, but requires some effort on your part to
> implement the following:
> 1) a plug in manager for your app to let the user register and start the
> plug in.

That is what I kind of figured out :)

> 2) an object model for your app data that safely exposes the data in
> some way:
>   a) dbus?
>   b) directly passing the data to the plug-in?
>   c) using interface files?
> 3) if you want to allow the plug in to modify the data, then some sort
> of interface to recognize modification requests and apply them
> (judiciously of course).  Again, gb.dbus messaging and gb.signal look
> the most sophisticated approach.

Seems I'll have to dive into gb.dbus

> 
> Some weeks ago I proposed adding such functionality to the IDE itself.
> In that post there is a mocked up proof of concept for step 1.  I didn't
> take it any further as there was little interest expressed.  We have
> added it to our local gambas installation and taken it further.
> However, no data that is within the IDE is exposed to the add-ins (as I
> didn't want or need to do that).  Our IDE add-ins work outside the IDE
> to provide some developer aids and at the most add new files to the
> project.  Some examples are: a "class-builder" that reads a UML xmi file
> and creates a new class with the majority of the property handling code
> already implemented; a "installer" that installs an automake package of
> the project with little user intervention; a "todo list " manager that
> goes far beyond the IDE tasks panel to manage to-dos, bugs, ideas, etc;
> and a stockview type of icon/image manager that previews any/all of our
> icon libraries and allows importing of icons into the project directory.
> So, nothing that actually modifies the active code within the IDE, the
> only data that is passed to the add-ins is the project path. Other than
> adding files to the project the only other back interface is via the
> clipboard. For example, the stock viewer copies the path of the clicked
> icon onto the clipboard in the format needed for a Picture["path"]
> command.
> 
> If you want to look at the POC search the mail archives for "Proposal" -
> it was some time in August.  I don't think we have an archive of it, but
> if you can't find the post then pm me and I'll have a look though system
> backups for it.

Ok I found your post about it and downloaded the archives. Archives
won't open somehow :(

Reason it gives:
tar: This does not look like a tar archive
tar: Skipping to next header
tar: Exiting with failure status due to previous errors

So I hope you still have them lying around somewhere.
Their names where (might help retrieving them):
addinmeta1-0.0.6.tar.gz
paddys-hill-runterm_simple-0.0.2.tar.gz

Very curious about this...
> 
> I'd say that dbus would be the way to go for part 2 as it is a
> convenient way to encapsulate and expose your object data model.

If I get part 1 done (guess your example will come in helpfull to get me
going) I'll have a good look at dbus and it's possibilities.

> 
> regards
> Bruce
> 

Thanks again..
You are always very helpful and seem to be thinking and doing a lot I'm
thinking and trying to do :)

Willy

BTW, I like your idea of being able to add plugins to the IDE as you
suggested. I can think of some useful additions off my own that would
speed up some routine tasks often needed during development.