Software Development with Add-On DLLs

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.NET2.0

Hi, I am trying to program a working base program with Window Form on .NET 2.0 platform with the ability to incorporate future add-on library (DLL) without having to recompile the original base program. Each library will contain a Window Form that is somehow automatically added to the Window Form of the original base program like adding a new tab for each DLL application. Certain data will be shared between DLL and the base program.

My first question is what should I use and/or how should I structure my base program and add-on library to work the way I described above. I don't want it to be a pop up windows for each DLL application, because it would make it two or more separate applications and sharing data between them seems very difficult. Also, adding a new tab for each DLL application doesn't seem practical if there are lots of add-ons DLLs. Thus, I am out of idea.

My second related question is how do I save the state of each DLL application and the base program without having to reload all data.

Posted 8-Dec-10 18:35pm

Que Trac

Updated 8-Dec-10 18:52pm

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Dave Kreskowiak · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-09T04:12:00

Your application is going to depend on a Plugin Framework[^].

It sounds like your main application isn't going to do much of anything, other than supply a common interface for a bunch of plugins. Start by reading the stuff behind the post link and think about what data and interfaces are going to be common between all of your plugins.