some further comments

[enigma2.git] / doc / PLUGINS

diff --git a/doc/PLUGINS b/doc/PLUGINS
index c383997ea5e5601fd3df1e058347b340e2a75309..c397e09c83dc3f02a85b8d1cbadba5a49c847cf1 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/PLUGINS
+++ b/doc/PLUGINS
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ def Plugins(**kwargs):
                fnc=main)"
 
 Basically, you're writing a "python module", which is called
-Plugins.ourSmallTest.plugin. This corresponds to the
-Plugins/ourSmallTest/plugin.py file.
+Plugins.DemoPlugins.OurSmallTest.plugin. This corresponds to the
+Plugins/DemoPlugins/OurSmallTest/plugin.py file.
 
 This module must define a single function called "Plugins". The functions is
 called for every Plugin, and should return (a list of)
@@ -76,6 +76,27 @@ stands for "keyword arguments") collects all addition keyword arguments
 parameter, and probably more in the future. You must ignore all additional
 keywords which you don't need!
 
+skins
+=====
+
+Generally, you can include the skin in your Screens by having a static (or
+non-static, if you really want) variable "skin", for example:
+
+class OurSmallTestScreen(Screen):
+       skin = "<skin>...</skin>"
+       def __init__(self, session):
+               Screen.__init__(self, session)
+               ...
+
+However, users can override the skin from their skin.xml. Note that the
+Screen's name (unless you override this, which is possible) is used for
+determining which skin is used. Thus, if you're choosing generic skin names
+like "TheScreen", it's likely to cause namespace clashes.
+
+Thus, please use skin names (i.e. Screen-names, unless you're overriding the
+skin name) which are unique enough to not clash. In doubt, prepend the
+pluginname like in our example.
+
 autostarting plugins
 ====================
 
@@ -91,6 +112,31 @@ def autostartEntry(raeson, **kwargs):
        elif reason == 1:
                print "shutdown"
 
+autostart plugins should always be configurable, and should default to an
+OFF state!
+
+Configuration
+=============
+
+Speaking about configuration, plugins must live in 
+
+config.plugins.<PluginName>
+
+and nowhere else!
+
+You are, however, free to change settings which are already existing. If you
+
+Dependencies
+============
+
+Plugin dependencies (one plugin requires another plugin) should generally be
+avoided, but are possible. If there are dependencies, the .ipk file must
+list them.
+
+If possible, make them optional. If your plugin doesn't support one feature
+because another plugin isn't installed, that's fine (but should be noted in
+the docs).
+
 Categories
 ==========
 
@@ -99,3 +145,17 @@ Currently defined categories are:
 * DemoPlugins: Plugins fore pure demonstration purposes
 * Extensions: User interface extensions
 * SystemPlugins: Hardware specific plugins
+
+Plugin Names
+============
+
+A plugin name:
+ - should always start with a Uppercase letter,
+ - must not start with the word "Dream",
+ - nor end with "Plugin",
+ - should be unique even across Categories,
+ - must be understandable by english speaking people,
+   (unless it's a geographically restricted plugin)
+ - is not user changeable (that is, the user is not allowed to rename the
+   plugin directory)
+ - shouldn't be a generic word