[Qgis-developer] Re: [work] [Qgis-community-team] Re: Python plugins and C++ plugins: using different terms

[Mateusz Loskot]

Borys Jurgiel wrote:
> I see no way to simplify the C++ plugins installation. We can't expect that 
> authors will provide their plugins for every platform and every QGIS release. 


Borys,

Just my 5 low-level eurocents to this issue.
I think that plugins developers writing in C++ language should provide

1. At least two compile-time tests (preprocessor directive #ifdef):

a) Supported platform - on what platforms a plugin can be built.
IOW, a plugin is neither built nor installed on unsupported platforms.

b) Minimal QGIS version required to use a plugin

2. One run-time check to confirm minimal required version of QGIS.
IMO, it would be nice to add a small reflection to plugin base class - 
QgsPlugin:

class QgsPlugin
{
    // Returns min. required version of QGIS supported by plugin
    virtual unsigned int qgisVersion() const = 0;
};


// somewhere in plugins loader (pseudo-code)

ver = currentQgisVersion

for plugin in plugins:
    if ver >= plugin.qgisVersion():
       load plugin

This way, plugins for which minimal requirements are not satisfied
won't get loaded.


I'm a newbie regarding qgis plugins development, so perhaps I'm 
suggestion what has been implemented already. If I am, please forget.


Best regards,
-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net
Charter Member of OSGeo, http://osgeo.org