Plugin Architectures

Examples of the PluginArchitecture pattern.

Plugins used to form the whole program:

• Eclipse (EclipseIde, + any app) - Java - References: http://www.eclipse.org, Eclipse Rich Client Platform, http://www.eclipse.org/rcp/, http://www.acmqueue.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=286
• Envisage - EnvisagePluginFramework in PythonLanguage
  • The Envisage core is little more than a system for discovering, loading, starting and stopping plug-ins. -- Martin Chivlers, Enthought.com http://www.python.org/pycon/2005/papers/81/PyCon-2005.txt
• SharpDevelop - http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/

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Plugins used to extend a feature set:

• InternetExplorer -
• MicrosoftOffice - Add-ins
• MicrosoftVisualStudio? - Add-ins
• MozillaBrowser - http://www.mozilla.org/projects/plugins/
• NetscapeBrowser? -
• Opinio - http://www.objectplanet.com/Opinio/
• Adobe PhotoShop - Filters, Importers/Exporters
• TCL - http://www.tcl.tk/man/plugin2.0/pluginDoc/plugin.htm
• TwikiClone - http://twiki.org/cgi-bin/view/Plugins/WebHome
• Winamp - Sound, Visual, and Skin plugins

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See also: PluginArchitecture, PluggableArchitecture, DataBusPattern, ComponentBus