[REBOL] Re: REBOL Plug-In Extensions
From: lmecir:mbox:vol:cz at: 11-Jul-2003 20:35
> 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
Great!
-Ladislav
