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[REBOL] REBOL Plug-In Extensions

From: Carl::rebol::com at: 11-Jul-2003 11:25

I've noticed some discussion on this topic, so that you don't need to beat this with a stick too hard, I thought it might be good to pre-release some information: News Flash: REBOL to add a Plug-in Architecture The purpose is to allow developers to write native code extensions to REBOL for adding things like image and sound format loaders/savers, additional functions, special device interfaces, high-speed computation (such as needed for bitmaps), etc. Plug-ins will be programmed as DLL (dynamic libraries) with a small number of standard entry points. Plug-ins will be self identifying, including versions, and will also be able to contain REBOL source code as well as native machine code. Plug-ins will be able to define Native! functions (as new datatype) that interface with REBOL, and will accept and return values in a "virtual datatype space" that does not require plugin functions to translate (load or mold) source code. The plug-in architecture will be released in a request-for-comments (RFC) format prior to its standardization, allowing developers to provide input and ideas. We're also hoping developers will be interested in helping us alpha and beta test the new architecture. Note that the "virtual datatype space" used for plugins is also useful for storing any type of REBOL data/code in reduced binary formats for inclusion in high speed, REBOL-native or remote database applications (with faster block translation times). -RT