IGB Developer's Guide
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  • The java standard for Plugins is OSGi (http://www.osgi.org), this is what IGB (written in java) uses.
  • the OSGi term for a Plugin is Bundle, they mean the same thing.
  • an OSGi bundle is a jar file. It must have a MANIFEST.MF file with the OSGi headers (see below).
  • an OSGi bundle can (usually will) have a special java class called an Activator. This class must extend org.osgi.framework.BundleActivator, and implement the start() and stop() method. The activator class is specified in the Bundle-Activator bundle header (see below). These methods are called when the bundle is started and stopped.
  • when a program is running with OSGi, the OSGi framework dynamically handles installing / uninstalling,
    activating (starting), deactivating (stopping), and upgrading bundles.
  • There are several implementations of OSGi, including:
    1. Apache Felix (http://felix.apache.org/)
    2. Eclipse Equinox (http://www.eclipse.org/equinox/)
    3. Knoplerfish (http://www.knopflerfish.org/)
  • the implementations are (for the most part) interchangeable and are free
  • the implementations allow the user to run OSGi from a command line tool or to start it within a program
  • IGB starts the felix implementation from with the com.affymetrix.igb.main.OSGiHandler class, but IGB can
    be run using the Felix command line tool by running ant gogo
  • there are several tutorials for OSGi, including:
    1. How to get Started with OSGi (http://www.osgi.org/About/HowOSGi)
    2. Apache Felix OSGi Tutorial (http://felix.apache.org/site/apache-felix-osgi-tutorial.html)
    3. OSGi for Beginners (http://www.theserverside.com/news/1363825/OSGi-for-Beginners)
    4. OSGi with Eclipse Equinox - Tutorial (http://www.vogella.de/articles/OSGi/article.html)
  • Explain:
  • What is a bundle? Give an example.
  • What is OSGi and how does it work?
    • Explain what an Activator is.
  • Provide references to tutorials developers new to the concept of bundles can read to get familiar with the topic.
  • Explain the concept of extension point.
  • Explain the advantages of bundles, plug-ins. (Ann can write this part after talking more with Michael and Lance.)

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