Programming Interface standardisation?
Just a thought, peeps...
.Net and ActiveX DLLs can have really complex methods etc. But why don't we get together some ideas on standardised methods & properties for plugins?
Then those of us who do code can integrate other peoples libraries quickly & easily.
So, with a GPS Input Plugin you could get standard coordinate data. Then that data can be used in a call to, say, a Speedometer plugin *and* a mapping plugin.
Then you get to choose whichever speedometer plugin you find most accurate, and whichever mapping/routing plugin you like most. And if you don't like any, you can write a new one and share it.
A routing plugin's waypoint output could even be used in conjunction with a proximity plugin, which in turn causes a speech synth to give the next instruction. Even the speech system could be a plugin, which just calls the standard MS speech stuff or else outputs wavefiles.