[gmpi] Re: Instruments done, moving on to "Plugin Files"

One benefit of storing metadata in a shared library is that that library can
be renamed without destroying the ability to get the metadata.

If that can be done with a whole directory of stuff, fine, but that must be
made a requirement.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Harris" <S.W.Harris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gmpi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:08 AM
Subject: [gmpi] Re: Instruments done, moving on to "Plugin Files"


> > >There has been some debate on whether external metadata is needed or is
> > >even a good idea.  The archives show concerns with slowness of loading
> > >dlls and crashiness of loading dlls as reasons.
>
> I thought the only person that argued against it was Tim, and I'm still
> not sure why. Also, you missed the legal reasons.
>
> > >My position (I think) is that metadata belongs in the shared object.
> > >Whether you access the data via open() and read() or you have load and
> > >call a probe entry point is irrelevant.  Probing should NOT be done on
> > >every startup, and I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect a host
to
> > >cache the results of a probe.
>
> Why would you want to dig inside an object file? We allready have a
> directory to keep files in, so why not use it? I've not seen a single
> benefit from storing the metadata in the object file.
>
> > >>  Req 88:   Plugin metadata must be available without loading/linking
a
> > >>  plugin dll.
> > >
> > >This is an extension of the previous.  I don't find much value in it.
> > >Arguments...
> >
> > its also not optimal to expect plugins to have to be instantiated or
> > otherwise "created" in order to discover metadata. any self-respecting
> > host is going to cache the results on one or more operating
> > systems. why force that on hosts? just stuff the metadata in some
> > text-based format, and be done with it.
>
> Agreed. Its not so much of a problem with PIC shared objects, but on some
> platforms (eg. windows IIRC) shared objects are relocated byte-by-byte
> every time thier opened by the loader, so its quite expensive.
>
> - Steve
>
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