How to make a nwnx style plugin application - C#

[Baaleos]

Pretty much, im a somewhat alright C# developer.

However, my next development project, I want to impliment a nwnx style plugin system, with a dll being loaded at startup, and being able to accept commands from the parent app.


I already have the code that allows me to load dll's at runtime via a
Reflection/resolve assembly call.

My guess is that I just change
'Assembly.Load(StreamToBytes(input))' to be the file path for the stream.

eg - for each assembly in the directory, load it.


I was just wondering if this sounds like a plan of action for how to go about creating a similar interface system.

1. Ok, I guess I can create an instance of the dll assembly/interface, and then store it in a Hashtable - so I can access it later. (associative array)
2. The DLL will need to have a common function across the platform.
eg a Method call within it called 'ReceiveRequest(string[]);'
3. So, the parent app, will take the note of the receiving plugin to send the command to, and the args, and then access the plugin instance from the hashtable - by name, and feed the arguments into the 'ReceiveRequest()' function.
4. The Plugin would accept the arguements and handle the code.


Does this sound feasible?
Or is there a better way of doing it?

[virusman]

https://www.google.com/search?q=C%23+plugin+system&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:ru:official&client=firefox
Yes, but you shouldn't export a function in the plugin. Export a class implementing a plugin interface instead.
_________________
In Soviet Russia, NWN plays you!

[Baaleos]

Hi Virusman,
Yeah, C# definitely would make it object orientated.

I was just wondering if anyone had insight into the way to pass information from Host to Plugin.


eg - Host would Scan directory
Gets *.dll files
Loads each one as an assembly, and then tries to instantiate the dll's. <-- Somehow?

eg im thinking I could create a base class type that is common in the host, and plugins.

eg

[virusman]

Define interface in the base app, implement it in the plugins.
Btw, a good example of C# plugin system is NWN2 Toolset plugin API.
This code will enumerate all classes in the assembly and instantiate only the classes that implement the interface:

[Baaleos]

Thanks,
I saw that same code - but didnt understand why/what it meant.
It makes perfect sense now the way you have explained it.