BrightScript Production Plugin Architecture#

Overview#

This document describes the plugin and modular component implementation patterns used in production BrightScript applications, based on analysis of real-world BrightSign digital signage player systems. These patterns enable highly modular, maintainable applications with clean separation of concerns and robust inter-plugin communication.

Table of Contents#

  1. Core Architecture Principles
  2. Library-Based Plugin System
  3. Factory Pattern Implementation
  4. Modular Object System
  5. Plugin Interface Design
  6. Event-Driven Communication
  7. State Management with “m” Scope
  8. Configuration-Driven Plugins
  9. Service Registration Pattern
  10. Plugin Identity and Validation
  11. Resource Management
  12. Plugin Extension Hooks
  13. Production Examples
  14. Best Practices

Core Architecture Principles#

1. Library Inclusion Pattern#

BrightScript plugins are organized as separate library files included using the Library statement:

Library "setupCommon.brs"
Library "setupNetworkDiagnostics.brs"

Sub Main()
    ' Plugin functionality now available
    diagnostics = newDiagnostics(sysFlags)
    networking = newNetworking(Setup)
End Sub

2. Factory-Based Plugin Creation#

Plugins are created using factory functions with a consistent “new” prefix naming convention:

Function newDiagnostics(sysFlags as object) as object
Function newNetworking(Setup as object) as object  
Function newLogging() as object

3. Dependency Injection#

Parent objects are passed to child plugins to enable cross-referencing and shared resource access:

Function newNetworking(Setup as object) as object
    networking = CreateObject("roAssociativeArray")
    networking.systemTime = Setup.systemTime
    networking.diagnostics = Setup.diagnostics
    networking.msgPort = Setup.msgPort
    return networking
end function

Library-Based Plugin System#

File Organization#

project/
├── setupCommon.brs           # Core utilities and shared functions
├── setupNetworkDiagnostics.brs  # Network-specific functionality
├── autorun-setup.brs         # Main application entry point
└── current-sync.json         # Configuration data

Library Inclusion Example#

Library "setupCommon.brs"
Library "setupNetworkDiagnostics.brs"

Sub Main()
    ' Libraries provide access to:
    ' - Shared utility functions
    ' - Plugin factory functions
    ' - Common constants and types
    
    setupVersion$ = "4.0.0.1"
    diagnostics = newDiagnostics(sysFlags)
    diagnostics.printDebug("setup script version " + setupVersion$ + " started")
End Sub

Factory Pattern Implementation#

Basic Factory Function#

Function newDiagnostics(sysFlags as object) as object
    diagnostics = {}
    
    ' Plugin properties
    diagnostics.debug = sysFlags.debugOn
    diagnostics.systemLogDebug = sysFlags.systemLogDebugOn
    
    ' System resources
    if diagnostics.systemLogDebug then
        diagnostics.systemLog = CreateObject("roSystemLog")
    end if
    
    ' Plugin methods
    diagnostics.PrintDebug = PrintDebug
    diagnostics.PrintTimestamp = PrintTimestamp
    diagnostics.SetSystemInfo = SetSystemInfo
    diagnostics.TurnDebugOn = TurnDebugOn
    
    return diagnostics
end function

Advanced Factory with Configuration#

Function newNetworking(Setup as object) as object
    networking = CreateObject("roAssociativeArray")
    
    ' Dependency injection
    networking.systemTime = Setup.systemTime
    networking.diagnostics = Setup.diagnostics
    networking.msgPort = Setup.msgPort
    
    ' Plugin-specific properties
    networking.uploadLogFileURLXfer = CreateObject("roUrlTransfer")
    networking.uploadLogFileURLXfer.SetPort(networking.msgPort)
    networking.assetPool = CreateObject("roAssetPool", "pool")
    
    ' Plugin constants
    networking.POOL_EVENT_FILE_DOWNLOADED = 1
    networking.POOL_EVENT_FILE_FAILED = -1
    networking.URL_EVENT_COMPLETE = 1
    
    ' Method assignment
    networking.InitializeNetworkDownloads = InitializeNetworkDownloads
    networking.StartSync = StartSync
    networking.URLEvent = URLEvent
    networking.PoolEvent = PoolEvent
    
    return networking
end function

Modular Object System#

Master Plugin Container#

Function newSetup(diagnostics as object) as object
    Setup = {}
    
    ' Core system resources
    Setup.diagnostics = diagnostics
    Setup.systemTime = CreateObject("roSystemTime")
    Setup.msgPort = CreateObject("roMessagePort")
    
    ' Plugin factory functions
    Setup.newLogging = newLogging
    Setup.newNetworking = newNetworking
    
    ' Plugin instantiation
    Setup.logging = Setup.newLogging()
    Setup.networking = Setup.newNetworking(Setup)
    
    ' Cross-plugin references
    Setup.logging.networking = Setup.networking
    
    ' Master plugin methods
    Setup.SetSystemInfo = SetupSetSystemInfo
    Setup.EventLoop = EventLoop
    
    return Setup
end function

Cross-Reference Pattern#

Sub SetupSetSystemInfo(sysInfo as object, diagnosticCodes as object)
    ' Propagate system info to all plugins
    m.diagnostics.SetSystemInfo(sysInfo, diagnosticCodes)
    m.networking.SetSystemInfo(sysInfo, diagnosticCodes)
    m.logging.SetSystemInfo(sysInfo, diagnosticCodes)
end sub

Plugin Interface Design#

Method Assignment Pattern#

Function CreateMediaPlayer() as object
    player = {}
    
    ' Core interface methods
    player.Initialize = MediaPlayer_Initialize
    player.LoadPlaylist = MediaPlayer_LoadPlaylist  
    player.PlayNext = MediaPlayer_PlayNext
    player.HandleEvent = MediaPlayer_HandleEvent
    player.Cleanup = MediaPlayer_Cleanup
    
    ' Plugin-specific methods
    player.SetVolume = MediaPlayer_SetVolume
    player.GetStatus = MediaPlayer_GetStatus
    player.TogglePlayback = MediaPlayer_TogglePlayback
    
    return player
end function

Service Interface Organization#

' Group related functionality into logical services
networking.fileServices = {
    UploadLogFiles: UploadLogFiles
    UploadLogFileHandler: UploadLogFileHandler
    GetContentDisposition: GetContentDisposition
}

networking.eventServices = {
    SendError: SendError
    SendEvent: SendEvent  
    SendErrorCommon: SendErrorCommon
    SendEventCommon: SendEventCommon
}

networking.syncServices = {
    StartSync: StartSync
    URLEvent: URLEvent
    PoolEvent: PoolEvent
    SetPoolSizes: SetPoolSizes
}

Event-Driven Communication#

Central Message Port Pattern#

Sub EventLoop()
    while true
        msg = wait(0, m.msgPort)
        
        ' Route events to appropriate plugins
        if (type(msg) = "roUrlEvent") then
            m.networking.URLEvent(msg)
            
        else if (type(msg) = "roSyncPoolEvent") then
            m.networking.PoolEvent(msg)
            
        else if (type(msg) = "roTimerEvent") then
            ' Critical: Timer identity verification for plugin events
            if type(m.networking.checkAlarm) = "roTimer" and stri(msg.GetSourceIdentity()) = stri(m.networking.checkAlarm.GetIdentity()) then
                m.networking.StartSync()
            else if type(m.networking.registrationResponseTimer) = "roTimer" and stri(msg.GetSourceIdentity()) = stri(m.networking.registrationResponseTimer.GetIdentity()) then
                m.networking.HandleRegistrationTimeout()
            end if
            
            ' Route to logging plugin
            if type(m.logging) = "roAssociativeArray" then
                if type(m.logging.cutoverTimer) = "roTimer" then
                    if msg.GetSourceIdentity() = m.logging.cutoverTimer.GetIdentity() then
                        m.logging.HandleTimerEvent(msg)
                    end if
                end if
            end if
            
        else if (type(msg) = "roDatagramEvent") and IsString(msg.GetUserData()) and msg.GetUserData() = "bootstrap" then
            ' Handle bootstrap messages
            payload = ParseJson(msg.GetString())
            if payload <> invalid and payload.message <> invalid then
                m.networking.ProcessBootstrapMessage(payload)
            end if
        end if
    end while
end sub

Plugin Event Handlers#

Sub URLEvent(msg as object)
    m.diagnostics.PrintTimestamp()
    m.diagnostics.PrintDebug("### url_event")
    
    if type(m.xfer) <> "roUrlTransfer" then return
    if msg.GetSourceIdentity() = m.xfer.GetIdentity() then
        if msg.GetInt() = m.URL_EVENT_COMPLETE then
            if msg.GetResponseCode() = 200 then
                m.ProcessSuccessfulDownload()
            else
                m.ProcessDownloadError(msg.GetResponseCode())
            end if
        end if
    end if
end sub

State Management with “m” Scope#

Plugin Self-Reference Methods#

Sub PrintDebug(debugStr$ as string)
    ' Validate plugin context
    if type(m) <> "roAssociativeArray" then stop
    
    ' Access plugin state via "m"
    if m.debug then    
        print debugStr$
    end if
    
    if m.systemLogDebug then
        m.systemLog.SendLine(debugStr$)
    end if
end sub

Plugin State Management#

Function CreateTimerManager() as object
    return {
        msgPort: CreateObject("roMessagePort"),
        timers: {},  ' Plugin state storage
        
        createTimer: Function(name As String, intervalSec As Integer) As Object
            timer = CreateObject("roTimer")
            timer.SetPort(m.msgPort)
            timer.SetElapsed(intervalSec, 0)
            
            ' Store in plugin state
            m.timers[name] = timer
            return timer
        End Function,
        
        handleTimerEvent: Function(msg As Object) As String
            ' Use "m" to access plugin state
            for each timerName in m.timers
                timer = m.timers[timerName]
                if type(timer) = "roTimer" then
                    if stri(msg.GetSourceIdentity()) = stri(timer.GetIdentity()) then
                        return timerName
                    end if
                end if
            end for
            return "unknown"
        End Function
    }
end function

Configuration-Driven Plugins#

Setup Parameters Parsing#

Sub ParseAutoplayCommon(setupParams as object, setup_sync as object)
    ' Plugin configuration from external sync specification
    setupParams.version = setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "version")
    setupParams.base = setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "base")
    setupParams.dwsEnabled = GetBoolFromNumericString(setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "dwsEnabled"))
    setupParams.networkDiagnosticsEnabled = GetBoolFromNumericString(setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "networkDiagnosticsEnabled"))
    setupParams.uploadLogFilesAtBoot = GetBoolFromNumericString(setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "uploadLogFilesAtBoot"))
    
    ' Network configuration
    setupParams.useWireless = GetBoolFromNumericString(setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "useWireless"))
    setupParams.ssid$ = setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "ssid")
    setupParams.passphrase$ = setup_sync.LookupMetadata("client", "passphrase")
    
    ' Security settings
    setupParams.enableUnsafeAuthentication = setup_sync.LookupMetadata("server", "enableUnsafeAuthentication")
end sub

Plugin Configuration Application#

Function InitializeNetworkDownloads(setupParams as object) as boolean
    ' Apply configuration to plugin
    m.nextURL$ = setupParams.nextURL$
    m.user$ = setupParams.user$
    m.password$ = GetPassword(setupParams.password$)
    m.enableBasicAuthentication = setupParams.enableBasicAuthentication
    m.uploadLogFileURL$ = setupParams.uploadLogFileURL$
    
    ' Configure sub-plugins based on parameters
    if setupParams.networkDiagnosticsEnabled then
        PerformNetworkDiagnostics(setupParams.testEthernetEnabled, setupParams.testWirelessEnabled, setupParams.testInternetEnabled)
    end if
    
    return true
end function

Service Registration Pattern#

Plugin Service Groups#

Function newLogging() as object
    logging = CreateObject("roAssociativeArray")
    
    ' File management services
    logging.CreateLogFile = CreateLogFile
    logging.MoveExpiredCurrentLog = MoveExpiredCurrentLog
    logging.MoveCurrentLog = MoveCurrentLog
    logging.OpenOrCreateCurrentLog = OpenOrCreateCurrentLog
    logging.DeleteExpiredFiles = DeleteExpiredFiles
    logging.FlushLogFile = FlushLogFile
    
    ' Logging services
    logging.WritePlaybackLogEntry = WritePlaybackLogEntry
    logging.WriteEventLogEntry = WriteEventLogEntry  
    logging.WriteDiagnosticLogEntry = WriteDiagnosticLogEntry
    
    ' Configuration services
    logging.InitializeLogging = InitializeLogging
    logging.ReinitializeLogging = ReinitializeLogging
    logging.InitializeCutoverTimer = InitializeCutoverTimer
    
    ' Event handling services
    logging.HandleTimerEvent = HandleLoggingTimerEvent
    logging.CutoverLogFile = CutoverLogFile
    logging.PushLogFilesOnBoot = PushLogFilesOnBoot
    
    return logging
end function

Service Interface Usage#

Sub Main()
    Setup = newSetup(diagnostics)
    
    ' Use plugin services through organized interfaces
    Setup.logging.InitializeLogging(false, false, false, setupParams.diagnosticLoggingEnabled, setupParams.variableLoggingEnabled, setupParams.uploadLogFilesAtBoot, setupParams.uploadLogFilesAtSpecificTime, setupParams.uploadLogFilesTime%)
    
    Setup.logging.WriteDiagnosticLogEntry(diagnosticCodes.EVENT_STARTUP, sysInfo.deviceFWVersion$ + chr(9) + sysInfo.setupVersion$ + chr(9) + "")
    
    Setup.EventLoop()
End Sub

Plugin Identity and Validation#

Object Type Validation#

' Critical validation pattern used throughout production code
registrySection = CreateObject("roRegistrySection", "networking")
if type(registrySection) <> "roRegistrySection" then
    print "Error: Unable to create roRegistrySection"
    stop
end if

supervisorRegistrySection = CreateObject("roRegistrySection", "!supervisor.brightsignnetwork.com")
if type(supervisorRegistrySection) <> "roRegistrySection" then
    print "Error: Unable to create supervisorRegistrySection roRegistrySection"
    stop
end if

Timer Identity Verification#

' Production pattern: Always verify timer identity for plugin communication
if (type(msg) = "roTimerEvent") then
    if type(m.networking.checkAlarm) = "roTimer" and stri(msg.GetSourceIdentity()) = stri(m.networking.checkAlarm.GetIdentity()) then
        m.networking.StartSync()
    else if type(m.networking.registrationResponseTimer) = "roTimer" and stri(msg.GetSourceIdentity()) = stri(m.networking.registrationResponseTimer.GetIdentity()) then
        m.networking.HandleRegistrationTimeout()
    end if
end if

Plugin Validation Function#

Function ValidatePlugin(plugin as object, requiredMethods as object) as boolean
    if type(plugin) <> "roAssociativeArray" then return false
    
    for each methodName in requiredMethods
        if not plugin.DoesExist(methodName) then
            print "Plugin missing required method: " + methodName
            return false
        end if
    end for
    
    return true
end function

Resource Management#

Plugin Cleanup Pattern#

Sub Cleanup()
    ' Set plugin objects to invalid for garbage collection
    m.videoPlayer = invalid
    m.audioPlayer = invalid
    m.imagePlayer = invalid
    m.networking = invalid
    m.logging = invalid
    m.diagnostics = invalid
    
    ' Clear plugin arrays and collections
    m.dataArray.Clear()
    m.eventQueue.Clear()
    m.timerCollection.Clear()
    
    ' Run garbage collector for circular references
    RunGarbageCollector()
End Sub

Resource Allocation Management#

Function CreateManagedPlugin(pluginType as string) as object
    plugin = {}
    plugin.resources = []
    plugin.timers = []
    
    plugin.addResource = Function(resource as object, resourceType as string)
        m.resources.Push({resource: resource, type: resourceType})
    End Function
    
    plugin.cleanup = Function()
        ' Clean up all managed resources
        for each item in m.resources
            if item.type = "timer" and type(item.resource) = "roTimer" then
                item.resource.Stop()
            else if item.type = "file" and type(item.resource) = "roCreateFile" then
                item.resource.Flush()
            end if
            item.resource = invalid
        end for
        m.resources.Clear()
    End Function
    
    return plugin
end function

Plugin Extension Hooks#

Feature Detection Plugin#

Function newFeatureDetector(featureMinRevs as object) as object
    detector = {
        featureMinRevs: featureMinRevs
        
        isSupported: Function(featureName$ as string) as boolean
            modelObject = CreateObject("roDeviceInfo")
            fwVersion$ = modelObject.GetVersion()
            
            featureExists = m.featureMinRevs.DoesExist(featureName$)
            if featureExists then
                featureMinFWRev = m.featureMinRevs[featureName$]
                featureMinFWRevVSFWVersion% = CompareFirmwareVersions(featureMinFWRev, fwVersion$)
                if featureMinFWRevVSFWVersion% <= 0 then
                    return true
                end if
            end if
            return false
        End Function
        
        getAvailableFeatures: Function() as object
            availableFeatures = []
            for each featureName in m.featureMinRevs
                if m.isSupported(featureName) then
                    availableFeatures.Push(featureName)
                end if
            end for
            return availableFeatures
        End Function
    }
    
    return detector
end function

Plugin Extension Registration#

Function CreateExtensiblePlugin() as object
    return {
        extensions: {}
        hooks: {}
        
        registerExtension: Function(name as string, extension as object)
            m.extensions[name] = extension
        End Function
        
        registerHook: Function(hookName as string, callback as function)
            if not m.hooks.DoesExist(hookName) then
                m.hooks[hookName] = []
            end if
            m.hooks[hookName].Push(callback)
        End Function
        
        executeHook: Function(hookName as string, data as object)
            if m.hooks.DoesExist(hookName) then
                for each callback in m.hooks[hookName]
                    callback(data)
                end for
            end if
        End Function
        
        getExtension: Function(name as string) as object
            if m.extensions.DoesExist(name) then
                return m.extensions[name]
            end if
            return invalid
        End Function
    }
end function

Production Examples#

Complete Plugin System Example#

Library "setupCommon.brs"
Library "setupNetworkDiagnostics.brs"

Sub Main()
    ' Initialize core system
    setupVersion$ = "4.0.0.1"
    debugParams = EnableDebugging("current-sync.json")
    
    sysFlags = {}
    sysFlags.debugOn = debugParams.serialDebugOn
    sysFlags.systemLogDebugOn = debugParams.systemLogDebugOn
    
    ' Create plugin system
    diagnostics = newDiagnostics(sysFlags)
    diagnostics.printDebug("setup script version " + setupVersion$ + " started")
    
    ' Create master plugin container
    Setup = newSetup(diagnostics)
    
    ' Initialize system info for all plugins
    modelObject = CreateObject("roDeviceInfo")
    sysInfo = CreateObject("roAssociativeArray")
    sysInfo.deviceUniqueID$ = modelObject.GetDeviceUniqueId()
    sysInfo.deviceFWVersion$ = modelObject.GetVersion()
    sysInfo.setupVersion$ = setupVersion$
    
    Setup.SetSystemInfo(sysInfo, diagnosticCodes)
    
    ' Configure plugins from external specification
    currentSync = CreateObject("roSyncSpec")
    if currentSync.ReadFromFile("current-sync.json") then
        setupParams = ParseAutoplay(currentSync)
        
        ' Initialize plugin services
        Setup.networkingActive = Setup.networking.InitializeNetworkDownloads(setupParams)
        Setup.logging.InitializeLogging(false, false, false, setupParams.diagnosticLoggingEnabled, setupParams.variableLoggingEnabled, setupParams.uploadLogFilesAtBoot, setupParams.uploadLogFilesAtSpecificTime, setupParams.uploadLogFilesTime%)
        
        ' Start plugin event loop
        Setup.EventLoop()
    end if
end sub

Media Player Plugin Example#

Function CreateMediaPlayerPlugin() as object
    return {
        ' Plugin state
        videoPlayer: invalid
        audioPlayer: invalid
        imagePlayer: invalid
        currentMedia: invalid
        playlist: []
        msgPort: CreateObject("roMessagePort")
        
        ' Plugin interface
        initialize: Function(volume as integer) as void
            m.videoPlayer = CreateObject("roVideoPlayer")
            m.videoPlayer.SetPort(m.msgPort)
            m.videoPlayer.SetVolume(volume)
            
            m.audioPlayer = CreateObject("roAudioPlayer")
            m.audioPlayer.SetPort(m.msgPort)
            m.audioPlayer.SetVolume(volume)
            
            m.imagePlayer = CreateObject("roImagePlayer")
        End Function
        
        loadPlaylist: Function(mediaFiles as object) as void
            m.playlist = []
            for each file in mediaFiles
                if IsMediaFile(file) then
                    m.playlist.Push({
                        filename: file,
                        type: GetMediaType(file)
// ... (see full example below)
                m.videoPlayer = invalid
            end if
            if m.audioPlayer <> invalid then
                m.audioPlayer.Stop()
                m.audioPlayer = invalid
            end if
            m.imagePlayer = invalid
        End Function
    }
end function
View complete code
Function CreateMediaPlayerPlugin() as object
    return {
        ' Plugin state
        videoPlayer: invalid
        audioPlayer: invalid
        imagePlayer: invalid
        currentMedia: invalid
        playlist: []
        msgPort: CreateObject("roMessagePort")
        
        ' Plugin interface
        initialize: Function(volume as integer) as void
            m.videoPlayer = CreateObject("roVideoPlayer")
            m.videoPlayer.SetPort(m.msgPort)
            m.videoPlayer.SetVolume(volume)
            
            m.audioPlayer = CreateObject("roAudioPlayer")
            m.audioPlayer.SetPort(m.msgPort)
            m.audioPlayer.SetVolume(volume)
            
            m.imagePlayer = CreateObject("roImagePlayer")
        End Function
        
        loadPlaylist: Function(mediaFiles as object) as void
            m.playlist = []
            for each file in mediaFiles
                if IsMediaFile(file) then
                    m.playlist.Push({
                        filename: file,
                        type: GetMediaType(file)
                    })
                end if
            end for
        End Function
        
        playNext: Function() as void
            if m.playlist.Count() = 0 then return
            
            m.currentMedia = m.playlist.Shift()
            m.playlist.Push(m.currentMedia)  ' Loop playlist
            
            if m.currentMedia.type = "video" then
                m.videoPlayer.PlayFile(m.currentMedia.filename)
            else if m.currentMedia.type = "audio" then
                m.audioPlayer.PlayFile(m.currentMedia.filename)
            else if m.currentMedia.type = "image" then
                m.imagePlayer.DisplayFile(m.currentMedia.filename)
            end if
        End Function
        
        handleEvent: Function(msg as object) as boolean
            if type(msg) = "roVideoEvent" or type(msg) = "roAudioEvent" then
                if msg.GetInt() = 8 then  ' MediaEnded
                    m.playNext()
                end if
            end if
            return true
        End Function
        
        cleanup: Function() as void
            if m.videoPlayer <> invalid then
                m.videoPlayer.Stop()
                m.videoPlayer = invalid
            end if
            if m.audioPlayer <> invalid then
                m.audioPlayer.Stop()
                m.audioPlayer = invalid
            end if
            m.imagePlayer = invalid
        End Function
    }
end function

Best Practices#

1. Naming Conventions#

  • Factory Functions: Use “new” prefix (newDiagnostics, newNetworking)
  • Plugin Methods: Use descriptive, action-oriented names
  • Plugin Properties: Use clear, domain-specific naming
  • Library Files: Use descriptive names with .brs extension

2. Error Handling#

' Always validate plugin creation
diagnostics = newDiagnostics(sysFlags)
if type(diagnostics) <> "roAssociativeArray" then
    print "Error: Failed to create diagnostics plugin"
    stop
end if

' Validate plugin methods before calling
if diagnostics.DoesExist("PrintDebug") then
    diagnostics.PrintDebug("Plugin created successfully")
end if

3. Memory Management#

' Set plugin references to invalid for garbage collection
m.childPlugin = invalid

' Clear plugin collections
m.pluginArray.Clear()
m.pluginRegistry = {}

' Run garbage collector for circular references
RunGarbageCollector()

4. Configuration Management#

' Use external configuration files
currentSync = CreateObject("roSyncSpec")
if currentSync.ReadFromFile("current-sync.json") then
    setupParams = ParseAutoplay(currentSync)
    ConfigureAllPlugins(setupParams)
end if

5. Event Loop Design#

' Single central event loop with plugin routing
Sub EventLoop()
    while true
        msg = wait(0, m.msgPort)
        
        ' Route to appropriate plugin with identity verification
        if type(msg) = "roTimerEvent" then
            RouterTimerEvent(msg)
        else if type(msg) = "roUrlEvent" then
            m.networking.URLEvent(msg)
        end if
    end while
End Sub

6. Plugin Testing#

' Validate plugin functionality
Function TestPlugin(plugin as object) as boolean
    requiredMethods = ["initialize", "process", "cleanup"]
    
    for each method in requiredMethods
        if not plugin.DoesExist(method) then
            return false
        end if
    end for
    
    return true
end function

7. Documentation#

  • Document plugin interfaces and expected behaviors
  • Include usage examples for each plugin
  • Document plugin dependencies and requirements
  • Maintain plugin version compatibility information

This plugin architecture enables building sophisticated, maintainable BrightScript applications with clean separation of concerns, robust error handling, and flexible extensibility patterns that scale from simple utilities to complex production systems.

Backward Design Patterns Part 3: JavaScript Development Forward