[gmpi] Re: lost-n-found #3 parameter stuff

On Wed, Oct 20, 2004 at 11:40:22 -0700, Tim Hockin wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 20, 2004 at 06:54:01PM +0100, Steve Harris wrote:
> > On Wed, Oct 20, 2004 at 10:48:17AM -0700, Tim Hockin wrote:
> > > > Or just dont special case it. I dont think its a general enough feature
> > > > that hosts should be required to support it.
> > > 
> > > Sorry, not following you.  Are you saying don't make a flag to indicate
> > > that a filename parameter indicates a project-local file, or require that
> > > all hosts support such a flag?
> > 
> > Dont make the flag. It saves like 4 lines of code in the plugins that need
> > it causes a ot of complictions in the spec and hosts.
> 
> What 4 lines of code does it save in plugins?  It would merely be a hint
> to hosts that IF THEY CARE, they can know that the file referenced by a
> filename parameter can be bundled with a project.

OK, in that case /definatly/ dont do it. Stementes like "if they care"
w.r.t things that can have a significant effect are not a good idea IHMO.
This implies that the plugin has no idea wether the host will be bundling
source files or not, and so has no idea wether it should be.

The 4 lines it could have saved if it was compulsory would be the plugin
dumping the file to the session directory itsself.
 
> Hosts that do not do bundled projects, or don't care to respect that can
> safely ignore it.  Plugins that don't specify the flag will not be
> penalized.
> 
> But hosts which respect that flag can make better use of plugins that
> specify it.
> 
> Am I missing something, some complexity or easy alternative?

Yeah, th easy alternative is letting the plugins do it themselves.
 
> My advocacy for this stems from frustration with plugins which use
> external files.  If I transport the project to a different system, say my
> laptop, the plugins don't find the files unless they are in exactly the
> same path.

Sure, that sucks, but this isn't a soltution because it requires the host
to do the storage (which si a bit hit and miss) and for it to rewrite the
plugins input values to reflect the new locations. As its not guaranteed
behaviour of the  host the plugin cant rely on it and it will have to work
around the case when the host doesnt do it. Messy.

Just provide a directory to the plugin where it can store its state and let
it do it itsself.

- Steve

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