P.I.S.S. a PlugIn-framework / Service-locator Solution

[cdbc]

Hi
<billboard>
First release has been committed, with version 26.0502.1
(P)lug(I)n (S)ervices (S)olution - PluginMgr & ServiceLocator
NO AI was consulted, used or harmed in the production of this Software!
...I might consult AI when I start writing the docs 
</billboard>
First release of my Hybrid Plugin-framework / Service-locator  \o/\ö/\o/
The name P.I.S.S is short for (P)lug(I)n (S)ervices (S)olution
Regards Benny

[dbannon]

I am not trying to verb(urine) you off or anything Benny, but this is up to version 26 already ?  (bottom of readme).

Is this intended to be used in general Lazarus app ? Like retro fitted to my app ?

Davo

[cdbc]

Hey Davo
First off -

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. 26.0430.1
2. |   |   +------ Major Version
3. |   +---------- Month-day Minor Version
4. +-------------- Build Year (instead of build number)
5.  

This means the version number can only go up and it's searchable 

Is this intended to be used in general Lazarus app ? Like retro fitted to my app ?

Yes & Yes 
THIS app I first built with fpGUI and then retrofitted the pluginmgr. As you can see, it started life as a product of my MVP-framework setup tool 
It works with CLI & GUI - I've had it in a production app for 3 years running (read debugging) 
I'm just putting the final touches on a __very__ simple showpiece / demo app & demo plugin... you're running linux right?
Regards Benny

edit: here's a log-session from said app:

Code: Text  [Select][+][-]

1. <- log=26.0421.1 - fpc=3.3.1 @ 2026/04/23 02:29:55 - mgr=26.0421.1 - debug ->
2. (*) [29.04.2026 17:21:29.957] PluginMgr: Start, 0, 1,
3.     "PluginMgr starting... Hello,  -->  (dbg/wait)^"
4. (|) [29.04.2026 17:21:30.189] PluginMgr: Ready, 6, 11,
5.     "PluginMgr v26.0421.1 is up and running :o)"
6. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:30.189] Presenter: Installed, 2, 3,
7.     "Service IWordCompletion installed OK"
8. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:30.189] Model: Installed, 1, 3,
9.     "Service IWordsProvider installed OK"
10. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:30.189] View: Installed, 3, 3,
11.     "Service IldgWordsPresenter installed OK"
12. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:33.687] View: Installed, 0, 5,
13.     "Service IKeyValueMap installed OK"
14. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:35.334] Maps: Installed, 1, 1,
15.     "Service ITaskThread installed OK"
16. (i) [29.04.2026 17:21:35.342] Maps: Info, 1, 1,
17.     "Loading master and subsidiary accounts..."
18. (i) [29.04.2026 17:21:35.344] Maps: Info, 1, 1,
19.     "Indexing foreign keys in master account..."
20. (+) [29.04.2026 17:21:37.887] View: Installed, 3, 3,
21.     "Services IViewWordCompletion & IWordUtil installed OK"
22. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.480] Maps: Uninstalled, 0, 0,
23.     "Service ITaskThread uninstalled OK"
24. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.480] View: Uninstalled, 0, 0,
25.     "Service IKeyValueMap uninstalled OK"
26. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.480] Presenter: Uninstalled, 2, 3,
27.     "Service IWordCompletion uninstalled OK"
28. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.481] Model: Uninstalled, 1, 3,
29.     "Service IWordsProvider uninstalled OK"
30. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.481] View: Uninstalled, 1, 1,
31.     "Service IldgWordsPresenter uninstalled OK"
32. (-) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.495] View: Uninstalled, 3, 3,
33.     "Services IViewWordCompletion & IWordUtil uninstalled OK"
34. (r) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.506] PluginMgr: Fetch, 6, 11,
35.     "Fetched list of Active Plugins"
36. (!) [29.04.2026 17:52:46.506] PluginMgr: Done!, 0, 231,
37.     "PluginMgr is shutting down... Bye."  

[dbannon]

Hmm, my app is cross platform, Linux, Windows, MacOS.

I ask because the original Tomboy, written in C# did have a plugin systems and fairly widely used one. My replacement, tomboy-ng directly implements many of those functions but the plugin approach was popular and attracted a number of contributors.

And its a great way to dismiss some less than sensible requests, "hey, you could implement that yourself".

Davo

[cdbc]

Hi Davo
It should be pretty much 'agnostic' to what you throw at it, as long as its implemented as interfaces (com/corba/manual).
That was my aim, but I simply don't have the possibility to test on winders & mac... If you're feeling curious, then sneak a peak in the 'zips' folder, it actually contains both binary & source representation of a demo app + plus the compiled P.I.S.S.
I still need to finish 2 files before its release-commit is complete, code-wise.
I will write docs till my fingers turn blue, or almost...
Got questions -- Just ask here 
Regards Benny

edit: I think I'll do a /master-class/ here in this thread, on how to construct a plugin... Which will then be compiled into the new version of 'Plugin in 60 seconds'

[hedgehog]

Hi, Benny

It sounds intriguing.
Is it similar to the plugin system in Total Commander, or much cooler?

[cdbc]

Hi
Of course I'd have to say, that it's WAY COOLER than that 
It's a very fast PluginMgr & ServiceLocator hybrid, it has loads of tricks "up its sleeve" 

[Boleeman]

Benny Christensen a.k.a. cdbc, I thought you were fictitiously "taking the PISS out of something" Haha.

Looks like your P.I.S.S / (P)lug(I)n (S)ervices (S)olution is legit !


Was wondering can it be used like plugins like for Paint.net?
I wanted to make a paint program that uses plugins in a similar fashion to Paint.net.

[cdbc]

Hi
To be honest, I haven't the foggiest about 'Paint.Net' or 'C#' 
Let me get the bastard off the ground, then you can have a 'LookSee' for yourself... 
It's partly inspired by Stefan Glienke (Spring4D) and Some Java Plugin-framework from somewhere 
For a while I ran a Servicelocator & Plugin-framework simultaneously, when suddenly I thought -WTHN- merge them 2 sonsofbitches?!?  ...and here we are \o/
Regards Benny

[Boleeman]

"get the bastard off the ground, then you can have a 'LookSee' for yourself"

OK

I went to that gitlab site and downloaded PISS.

[cdbc]

Hi
You really should wait, till at least the release date: 2026.05.02
...As it's __not__ yet complete, I still need to put the finishing touches on the last 2 files 
Regards Benny
(hush:: don't tell nobody, it's a birthday present to myself) 

[cdbc]

Hi Guys & Gals
Right, so I finished 7 hours early \o/
Go and get IT 
Regards Benny

[Hansvb]

Happy birthday Benny.

[cdbc]

Hi Hans
Thanks Mate 
I hope you enjoy the sunshine, I've worked very hard for that 
Regards Benny

[cdbc]

Helloooo
Today I've added the directory layout, that I use on my developing machines.
It's crude but you should get the gist of it 
They're both there, my crude text-original and 'Claude's refined markdown version...
Have fun - Benny