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author | alcoheca <alcoheca@svn> | 2010-03-26 13:35:35 +0000 |
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committer | alcoheca <alcoheca@svn> | 2010-03-26 13:35:35 +0000 |
commit | b632a42d5cacdda7bb07a3fee995a4f0de1deba9 (patch) | |
tree | b174ecd7ce4830785293fa6d18ab65d30c0cc375 /lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox | |
parent | 5ccef76d00e1dc22d6ae5d1c08172630f5972e58 (diff) |
copied cpluff-0.1.3 from vendor branch
git-svn-id: https://xbmc.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/xbmc/trunk@28834 568bbfeb-2a22-0410-94d2-cc84cf5bfa90
Diffstat (limited to 'lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox')
-rw-r--r-- | lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox | 286 |
1 files changed, 286 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox b/lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..9b7e954896 --- /dev/null +++ b/lib/cpluff/libcpluff/docsrc/plugin.dox @@ -0,0 +1,286 @@ +/*------------------------------------------------------------------------- + * C-Pluff, a plug-in framework for C + * Copyright 2007 Johannes Lehtinen + * + * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a + * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), + * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation + * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, + * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the + * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: + * + * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included + * in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. + * + * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS + * OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF + * MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. + * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY + * CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, + * TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE + * SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. + *-----------------------------------------------------------------------*/ + +/** + * @page plugin Plug-in + * + * @section pluginOverview Overview + * + * Plug-in is the core element of an extensible application. The extensions and + * also the main application logic are implemented as plug-ins. Plug-ins can + * be developed, distributed and deployed independently, subject to + * inter-plugin dependencies. Deploying a new plug-in does not require + * recompilation or relinking if the operating system platform supports + * required dynamic linking facilities. + * + * @section pluginStructure Structure + * + * A plug-in includes the following structural elements. + * + * - @ref pluginDescriptor "Plug-in descriptor" + * - @ref pluginRuntime "Plug-in runtime library" + * - @ref pluginData "Static plug-in data" + * + * @subsection pluginDescriptor Plug-in descriptor + * + * A plug-in descriptor is an XML document describing a plug-in. It includes + * information about the contents of the plug-in, the features provided by + * the plug-in, plug-in version information and static dependencies of the + * plug-in. Most of the elements are optional. Most of the descriptor + * information described here is available to software via + * @ref cp_plugin_info_t structure. The plug-in descriptor must be located + * in the plug-in directory as @c plugin.xml. + * + * The formal declaration of plug-in descriptor is available as + * XML Schema Definition in @c plugin.xsd located in the top level source + * directory. Currently there is no namespace associated with the plug-in + * descriptor. Here is an example of a plug-in descriptor. Click element name + * to jump into documentation for that element. + * + * <div class="fragment"> + * <pre class="fragment"> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPlugin">plugin</a> id=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.example"</span> name=<span class="charliteral">"Example Plug-in"</span> version=<span class="charliteral">"0.3.2"</span> provider-name=<span class="charliteral">"Johannes Lehtinen"</span>> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginBWC">backwards-compatibility</a> abi=<span class="charliteral">"0.3"</span> api=<span class="charliteral">"0.2.8"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginRequires">requires</a>> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginReqCP">c-pluff</a> version=<span class="charliteral">"0.1"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginReqImport">import</a> plugin=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.util"</span> version=<span class="charliteral">"0.2"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginReqImport">import</a> plugin=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.extra"</span> optional=<span class="charliteral">"true"</span>/> + * </<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginRequires">requires</a>> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginRuntime">runtime</a> library=<span class="charliteral">"libruntime"</span> funcs=<span class="charliteral">"org_cpluff_example_funcs"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginEP">extension-point</a> id=<span class="charliteral">"editors"</span> name=<span class="charliteral">"Text Editors"</span> schema=<span class="charliteral">"editors_schema.xsd"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginEP">extension-point</a> id=<span class="charliteral">"url-families"</span>/> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginE">extension</a> point=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.util.archivers"</span> id=<span class="charliteral">"tar"</span> name=<span class="charliteral">"Tar Archiver Support"</span>> + * <type random-access=<span class="charliteral">"false"</span>/> + * <exec bin=<span class="charliteral">"tar"</span>/> + * </<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginE">extension</a>> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginE">extension</a> point=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.example.editors</span>> + * <editor name=<span class="charliteral">"Text Editor"</span> runtime=<span class="charliteral">"org_cpluff_example_txteditor_runtime"</span>> + * <file-types> + * <file-type mime-type=<span class="charliteral">"text/plain"</span>/> + * </file-types> + * </editor> + * </<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPluginE">extension</a>> + * </<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPlugin">plugin</a>></pre> + * </div> + * + * A descriptor can also be much simpler, depending on the plug-in. + * Here is an example of a minimal descriptor (of a useless plug-in). + * + * <div class="fragment"> + * <pre class="fragment"> + * <<a class="code" href="#pluginDescPlugin">plugin</a> id=<span class="charliteral">"org.c-pluff.useless"</span>/></pre> + * </div> + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPlugin plugin + * + * This is the top level element of the plug-in descriptor. It can have + * following attributes. + * + * - @a id: A mandatory unique identifier for the plug-in. Plug-in identifiers + * should preferably be generated using a reversed DNS domain name as + * prefix to prevent identifier conflicts. + * - @a name: An optional human-readable name for the plug-in. + * - @a version: An optional version number for the plug-in. Version numbers + * are used for checking compatibility when resolving versioned plug-in + * dependencies. See also information about + * @ref pluginVersions "plug-in versions". + * - @a provider-name: The name of the plug-in provider or author. Optional. + * + * This element can contain following elements. + * + * - @ref pluginDescPluginBWC "backwards-compatibility": Optional information about backwards + * compatibility of this plug-in version. + * - @ref pluginDescPluginRequires "requires": Information about static plug-in dependencies. Can be omitted + * if the plug-in does not have static dependencies. + * - @ref pluginDescPluginRuntime "runtime": Information about the plug-in runtime library. Can be omitted + * if the plug-in does not have a runtime library but only data. + * - @ref pluginDescPluginEP "extension-point": Information about extension points provided by the + * plug-in. This element is repeated if there are multiple extension points + * and omitted if there are none. + * - @ref pluginDescPluginE "extension": Information about extensions provided by the plug-in. + * This element is repeated if there are multiple extensions and omitted + * if there are none. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginBWC backwards-compatibility + * + * This element includes optional information about the backwards compatibility + * of this plug-in version. It can have following attributes. + * + * - @a abi: Backwards compatibility of the application binary interface (ABI) + * of the plug-in. ABI includes any public symbols exported by the plug-in, + * data structures associated with exported symbols and any extension points + * provided by the plug-in. The ABI of the current plug-in version is + * backwards compatible with any plug-in version from the version specified + * here to the current version. This information is used when resolving + * versioned plug-in dependencies. See also information about + * @ref pluginVersions "plug-in versions". + * - @a api: Backwards compatibility of the application programming interface + * (API) of the plug-in. API compatibility means that source code developed + * against one version of the plug-in also compiles against another version + * of the plug-in. This information is not used by framework but it can be + * used by a developer developing dependent plug-ins. + * + * These apply to plug-ins that provide header files and runtime libraries. + * For example, a plug-in might export global functions to other plug-ins or it + * might provide an extension point where an extension installed by other + * plug-in must conform to data structures defined by the plug-in. + * Both attributes are optional. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginRequires requires + * + * This element includes information about static plug-in dependencies. + * It can be omitted if there are no dependencies. It can contain following + * elements. + * + * - @ref pluginDescPluginReqCP "c-pluff": An optional version dependency + * on the C-Pluff implementation. + * - @ref pluginDescPluginReqImport "import": Declares a static dependency + * on other plug-in. This element is repeated if there are multiple + * dependencies and omitted if there are none. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginReqCP c-pluff + * + * This element declares a version dependency on the C-Pluff + * implementation. It can be used to ensure that the plug-in is not loaded by + * incompatible C-Pluff version. It has the following attribute. + * + * - @a version: The required version of the C-Pluff implementation. + * This is used when resolving the plug-in. It is checked that the used + * C-Pluff implementation is backwards compatible with the version specified + * here when it comes to the application binary interface (ABI) of C-Pluff. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginReqImport import + * + * This element declares a static dependency on other plug-in. It must be + * used when a plug-in uses global symbols or data from other plug-in or when + * a plug-in uses an extension point defined by other plug-in or whenever some + * other plug-in needs to be there for the plug-in to work. The framework takes + * care of resolving and starting the dependencies whenever the plug-in is + * resolved or started. + * + * This element can have following attributes. + * + * - @a plugin: The identifier of the imported plug-in. + * - @a version: An optional version dependency on the imported plug-in. + * The plug-in can be resolved only if the version of the imported plug-in + * is backwards compatible with the version specified here when it comes + * to the application binary interface (ABI) of the imported plug-in. + * - @a optional: Is the import optional or not ("true" or "false"). Default is + * false, a mandatory import. + * An optional import behaves just like the mandatory import as long as the + * imported plug-in is present. However, if it is not present then the + * import is ignored. Optional import can be used if the plug-in works + * in limited capacity even without the specified plug-in. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginRuntime runtime + * + * This element contains information about the plug-in runtime library. It is + * omitted if the plug-in does not have a runtime library but contains only + * data. It can have following attributes. + * + * - @a library: The name of the plug-in runtime library in the plug-in + * directory. A platform specific extension (for example, ".so" or ".dll") + * is added to the value specified here when loading the library. + * - @a funcs: The functions to be used to create an instance of the plug-in + * runtime. This attribute is optional. It is needed if the plug-in has + * a start or stop function. The value specified here is a name of an + * exported symbol which contains a pointer to @ref cp_plugin_runtime_t + * structure. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginEP extension-point + * + * This element defines an extension point provided by the plug-in. + * It can have following attributes. + * + * - @a id: The local identifier of the extension point. The value specified + * here is prefixed with the identifier of the plug-in and dot to construct + * the global identifier of the extension point. + * - @a name: An optional human-readable name describing the use of the + * extension point. + * - @a schema: An optional path to the extension point XML schema in + * the plug-in directory. This information is not currently used by the + * framework. But it can be used by a developer to determine what information + * should be provided by extensions attached to this extension point. + * + * @subsubsection pluginDescPluginE extension + * + * This element defines an extension installed into a specified extension + * point provided by the defining plug-in or some other plug-in. + * It can have following attributes. + * + * - @a point: The global identifier of the associated extension point. + * - @a id: An optional local identifier for the extension. The value specified + * here is prefixed with the identifier of the plug-in and dot to construct + * the global identifier for the extension. + * - @a name: An optional human-readable name describing the extension. + * + * The extension element can contain XML elements specific to the associated + * extension point (conforming to the schema defined by the extension point). + * + * @subsection pluginRuntime Plug-in runtime library + * + * A plug-in runtime library is an optional plug-in element. Plug-ins only + * supplying static data in form of XML data and files do not need a runtime + * library. However, a typical plug-in does provide program logic as well. + * + * The plug-in runtime library includes all program logic and program + * data provided by the plug-in. It is simply a shared library, or a + * dynamically linked library, which is linked in to the application when + * the plug-in is started. When plug-in is unloaded, the runtime library is + * unloaded as well. The framework has been designed to manage dependencies + * so that unloading of the runtime library does not cause problems, provided + * that plug-ins behave properly. + * + * A plug-in can expose functionality to other plug-ins either as exported + * global symbols that are directly resolved by other plug-ins or by supplying + * extensions. When other plug-ins are directly using exported symbols the + * plug-in acts just like any standard shared library. Nothing special there. + * The more interesting case is exposing functionality as extensions. Because + * the extension is registered at a specific extension point, the logic in + * other plug-ins can use the extension and the associated program logic even + * if they are not aware of the existence of the extension supplying plug-in. + * + * The extension points accepting program logic as extensions define a way + * to specify the name of the symbol pointing to the supplied logic. This is + * typically an attribute of an XML element contained in the extension + * definition. The plug-in supplying the extension can then export the program + * logic as a global symbol with arbitrary name and then place the name of the + * symbol in extension data. Alternatively, the plug-in can define a virtual + * symbol at runtime using ::cp_define_symbol. Other plug-ins that are using + * extensions registered at the extension point can then resolve the named + * symbol using ::cp_resolve_symbol at runtime. The framework automatically + * creates a dependency from the symbol using plug-in to the symbol supplying + * plug-in to prevent failures in case the symbol supplying plug-in is stopped + * or unloaded. + * + * @subsection pluginData Static plug-in data + * + * Plug-in can supply static data to other plug-ins using at least two + * different mechanisms. A plug-in can easily provide static XML data as part + * of extension elements. Additionally, a plug-in directory can contain + * files that may be accessed by other plug-ins. Currently the platform does + * not provide assistance in accessing data files provided by other plug-ins. + * However, a plug-in can locate the plug-in directory and thus any included + * data files by using plug-in path available in @ref cp_plugin_info_t + * structure of the data providing plug-in. + */ |