Supply a plugin interface

[Ulrich Eckhardt]

Johannes Bauer wrote:
> What I'd like to add: I want the GUI users to supply plugin scripts,
> i.e. offer some kind of API. That is, I want the user to write short
> Python pieces which look something like
> 
> import guiapp
> 
> class myplugin():
> def __init__(self):
> guiapp.add_menu("foobar")
> 
> def exec(self, param):
> print("foo")
> 
> the GUI application should now browse the plugin directory and read
> those plugin python files and somehow incorporate (i.e. discover what
> modules are there, instanciate, etc.)

You will find ways to scan a directory using os.path and related things. In
order to import a module, you add the base directory to sys.path. Since you
have just a variable with the module name (excluding the .py), you can't
use 'import' as it is. Instead, use the __import__ functio (I wonder if
there is anything more elegant) which returns the plugin.

Other than that, better steal ideas than reinventing them. I think e.g.
xchat already provides ways to script the UI, which you could take as an
inspiration.

Have fun!

Uli

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