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Plug-ins

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Revision as of 23:06, 18 February 2007 by JeffM2501 (Talk | contribs) (New page: BZFS can be built to support the loading of external libraries as plug-ins. These plug-ins can alter or replace the logic applied by the server, as well as automate many common tasks. They...)

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BZFS can be built to support the loading of external libraries as plug-ins. These plug-ins can alter or replace the logic applied by the server, as well as automate many common tasks. They are can be loaded at startup by the -loadplugin option, or at run time with the /loadplugin command.

Plug-ins are a simpler way to apply modifications to the game, as they do not require the server owner to modify or recompile his/her BZFS application. By using the BZFS API plug-ins are also able to be mixed and matched in an easy way.

Overview

Plug-ins are compile dynamic link libraries, that are built for the same OS/RuntimeEnvironment as the BZFS server that hosts them. On Microsoft Windows they are built as DLL files. On Linux and other Unix-like systems they are built as .so files.

On load, plug-ins install a number of callbacks and event handlers with the hosting BZFS that are called when specific events happen. This allows the plug-in to perform additional actions on these events, or if need be, alter the results of the default logic of the server.

BZFS API

All plug-ins are linked to the BZFS API. This programing layer provides the interface to the BZFS application. All events and functions that a plug-in can call are in the BZFS API.

Standard plug-ins=

The BZFlag Source distribution contains a number of plug-ins that are maintained by the project developers. These plug-ins are located in the /plugins directory.

As of February 18th 2007, CVS HEAD ( version 2.1) contains the following plug-ins:

Third Party Plug-ins

A number of non-developers have created plug-ins for BZFS, and usually release them on the BZFlag Forums.

Plug-in Development

Todo: describe the basics of plug-in development.