(Modular-)Application Framework / Rich-Client-Platform in Python

[Wildemar Wildenburger]

Stef Mientki wrote:
> I took a look at Eclipse page you mentioned but after reading the first page I still don't 
> understand what you mean (and I never read beyond the first page ;-).
>   
Well, what can I say ...
;)


> With a plugin system, I can think of a complete operating system,
> or I can think of something like a DTP, or simply Word,
> or I can think of something like Signal WorkBench
> etc.
>   
Yes exactly. As I said: Nothing in particular. Just an environment that 
loads and unloads little bits if functionality, whatever those may be.
I think what most people think of when they hear "plugin" is: An 
Application that can be extended.
An RCP provides no more than the next step: No monolithic app, just 
plugins (which can have plugins themselves (which can have plugins 
themselves (which ...))). Write a text editor component and use it in 
your music-sequencer that also monitors your internet-activity, if you must.


> I think if you don't express what all of the tasks of that framework will be,
> it's not well possible to create one.
>
>   
Oh, but it is! Eclipse is such a framework. Pitty is, it's written in 
Java. ;)


> Do you want just launching of applications, or do they have to communicate,
> exchange data, launch each other, create together one document or more general control one process,
> and lots of more questions ;-)
>   
Who knows? Thats the beauty of it. Eclipse has been conceived as an 
IDE/Text-Editor. But now it is just a platform for others to build 
plugins for. Such as an IDE. There are plans to make an eclipse-based 
general PIM (called Haystack, I think). The concept is very simple, but 
for some reason, highly unusual at present. I'm pretty sure that this 
will change sooner or later.