Integration Models in a .NET Plug-in Framework

Abstract

Applications based on plug-in architectures are extensible through third- parties and enable customized user environments. We argue that extensibility and customization are important features in enterprise application software. In an ongoing research project we are developing a plug-in platform in .NET for the enterprise domain. Targeting the enterprise domain raises special requirements with security, reliability and versioning. This paper presents models for host and plug-in integration that address execution of plug-ins in reliable settings and allowing independent evolution of core applications and plug-ins and it will show how this has been solved in a consistent and transparent way in the .NET plug-in framework.