Post on 05-Jul-2015
Extensions Infrastructure
Recent Achievements and Future Prospects
Joachim LingnerSoftware EngineerSun Microsystems
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About the speaker
• Started working as software engineer at Sun Microsystems in 1999
• Also began working on StarOffice at the same time• Involved in UNO development• Currently focused on developing the Extension Manager
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Content
• Renaming of Package Manager • Extension identifier• Extension versioning• System integration• Options pages• Online update• Extensions repository• Future plans
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Renaming of Package Manager
• Renaming “Package Manager” to “Extension Manager” and
• “UNO Package Bundle” to “Extension”
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Renaming of Package ManagerMotivation
• “Extension” widely used, old name did not stick• Content can also be data with no relation to UNO• An extension is a container for code and data and it
must be deployed by the Extension Manager
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Extension Identifier
• File names need not be unique anymore – shorter names possible
• Files with short names are easier to handle and • Shorter file names are better displayed in the dialog• Different extensions with the same file name can be
installed
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Extension Identifier
• The identifier is determined by the description.xml• Use “Reversed Domain Name Scheme” to ensure
uniqueness
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Versioning
• New “Version” column• Needed for online update
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Versioning
• Only one version of an extension can be installed (per user and shared layer)
• Helpful messages when installing
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Versioning
• The version is determined by the description.xml
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System Integration
• Easier recognition by using an icon for .oxt files
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System Integration
• Easier installation
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System Integration
• Extension Manager GUI is used for installing
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Options Pages
• Extensions may use the options dialog for their settings• All options in one dialog, no separate menus • Seamless integration in application settings
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Options Pages
• Extensions can define new nodes• Nodes can appear for particular modules or always
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Options PagesWhat is Required
• A tab-page, can be created with the dialog editor of OOo• Configuration data describing the leaves and nodes, etc.• An UNO service that takes care of loading and saving the
data• Configuration files (.xcs, .xcu) for the data of the option
pages
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Online Update
• User friendly way of getting and installing updates• User starts the update• Get an update for a selected extension or for all
extensions
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Online UpdateGetting Update Information
• Extension Manager needs information to determine if updates are available
• description.xml may contain a URL• Build-in URL, which is used in case the extension does
not provide one• URLs can
> directly refer to a file or> trigger the generation of update information by the web server
• Bundling of multiple update information in an atom feed
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Online UpdateContent of Update Information
• Identifier• Version• Dependencies• Download URL
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Online UpdateUpdate Dialog
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Online UpdateSecurity
• Currently users must trust the connection and source• HTTPS is in development• Digital signatures are planned
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Extension Repository
• Link to repository within the Extension Manager
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Extension Repository
• http://extensions.services.openoffice.org• Hosted by the Open Source Lab (OSL), a facility of the
Oregon State University• No costs for the publishers of extensions• Free and commercial extensions• No payment system available, but• Downloads can be hosted at external sites (which may
support payments) • Supports the online update feature of the Extension
Manager
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Future Plans
• Allow semi-automatic update through web site
• Automatic notification about updates (combined with office)
• Provide information about new extensions (from repository)
• Support of https
• Digital signatures
• GUI redesign
• Bundled Extensions
• Improve NetBeans OpenOffice.org API Plugin
• More UNO AWT controls (grid control)
• ...
Joachim Lingnerjoachim.lingner@sun.com
Extensions Infrastructure
Recent Achievements and Future Prospects
Questions?