Java and Plugins
Author:
Michael
Plitkins
Updated: 11 October, 1998
Plugins and Java support are closely
related in NGLayout. This is because we are relying on the new set of interfaces
designed to bring the Communicator 4 Plugin APIs into the XPCOM world.
Part of that effort included adding new interfaces to allow Java to be
removed from the base Communicator code and instead behave as a plugin
yet retain all of the original functionality. As such, there are two tiers
of Plugin APIs that NGLayout will support, plus a compatibility layer:
Base plugin APIs to support the functionality
of Communicator 4 style plugins
A few new APIs to make the old APIs
more complete and fit better in the XPCOM world.
A second tier of APIs that add the additional
level of functionality that a Java VM and Applets/Objects require.
"Forward adapter code" that sits on
top of the tier one interfaces and knows how to talk to Communicator 4
style plugins. This will allow NGLayout to be able to load both new and
old school plugins.
Refer to
the
plugin guide for more information on the functionality supported by
the plugin APIs.
The APIs
for plugins are still in flux, and as such we have a moving target, but
it's small and easy to hit.
In order
to ship Java, we need a high performance JavaVM that conforms to the plugin
API spec.
Assume
nothing.