Hi Cesar,

> On May 11, 2017, at 12:10 PM, csra...@bol.com.br wrote:
> 
>> On Thu, 11 May 2017 11:34:47 +0200, Cl?ment Bera <bera.clem...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> On   Wed,  May   10,  2017   at  8:12   PM,  Esteban   A.  Maringolo
>> <emaring...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> 2017-05-10 13:38 GMT-03:00  Cl?ment Bera <bera.clem...@gmail.com>:
>>>> On  Wed, May  10,  2017  at 5:28  PM,  Esteban  A. Maringolo  <
>>> emaring...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>>> If it is a plug-in, why does it need VM recompilation?
>>>> Internal plugins require VM recompilation. Only external plugins
>>>> do not.
>>> It was  more of a  semantic question, I'd  expect a plug-in  to be
>>> that, pluggable, as you say external  plugins are.  Or what is the
>>> "pluggability" of such plugins?
>>> 
>> I  would say  there is  3 levels  of pluggability:  1 non  optional
>> internal plugin,  pluggable because  it can  be replaced  by another
>> internal plugin  implementing the same  API at VM  compilation time.
>> Used  for modularity  of specific  aspects  of the  VM.  2  optional
>> internal  plugin, pluggable  because it  can  be removed  / added  /
>> replaced at  VM compilation time.  Used to improve  performance over
>> external plugin  or to access  VM functions not exposed  to external
>> plugins.  3 external  plugin, pluggable because it can  be removed /
>> added  / replaced  after  the VM  is compiled.  Used  for all  other
>> plugins.
>> So they're all pluggable in some way.
>> 
> I'm on this vital industry for 45+ years and I already learned that words and 
> names have usages and except when standarized via certains bodies aimed 
> specifically the meaning can vary even within the same realm of the art.
> 
> That written, and without attempting to start a semantic discussion, however 
> feeling a contribution may be useful, I would say that the 'levels' one and 
> two described above would better called "modules" instead of plugins.
> 
> In my way of understanding this non mother tongue "compile time plugins" seem 
> to be more a figure of speech than the offering of 'plugability' which 
> plugins offer, or perhaps, in my humble perception ought to offer.
> 
> Also, I think it would be less surprising for most people when exposed to the 
> subject (module == compiling, plugin == run time).

+1.  I think the system designers agreed with you because the way to find out 
what plugins are available is

    Smalltalk listLoadedModules

> Just my 0,0199999....
> 
> --
> Cesar Rabak

_,,,^..^,,,_ (phone)

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