Moved all contents of the Nuclex.Plugins project into the Nuclex.Support project; added copyright notices to all files imported from Nuclex.Plugins; updated copyright span year in all copyright notices; minor documentation improvements

git-svn-id: file:///srv/devel/repo-conversion/nusu@59 d2e56fa2-650e-0410-a79f-9358c0239efd

Nuclex.Support (x86).csproj

@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@
       <DependentUpon>RingMemoryStream.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
     <Compile Include="Source\Collections\TransformingReadOnlyCollection.cs" />
-    <Compile Include="Source\Collections\TransformingReadOnlyCollection.Interfaces.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Collections\TransformingReadOnlyCollection.Interfaces.cs">
+      <DependentUpon>TransformingReadOnlyCollection.cs</DependentUpon>
+    </Compile>
     <Compile Include="Source\Licensing\LicenseKey.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Source\Licensing\LicenseKey.Test.cs">
       <DependentUpon>LicenseKey.cs</DependentUpon>
@@ -114,6 +116,13 @@
     <Compile Include="Source\PathHelper.Test.cs">
       <DependentUpon>PathHelper.cs</DependentUpon>
     </Compile>
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\Attributes.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\Employer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\FactoryEmployer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\InstanceEmployer.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\PluginHelper.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\PluginHost.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Source\Plugins\PluginRepository.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Source\Scheduling\AbortedException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Source\Scheduling\IAbortable.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Source\Scheduling\Operation.cs" />

Source/Collections/ObservableCollection.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/ObservableCollection.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/PairPriorityQueue.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/PairPriorityQueue.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/Parentable.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/ParentingCollection.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/PriorityItemPair.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/PriorityQueue.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/PriorityQueue.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
@@ -196,15 +196,17 @@ namespace Nuclex.Support.Collections {
 
       while(child < this.count) {
 
-        if(
+        bool needsToBeMoved =
           ((child + 1) < this.count) &&
-          (this.comparer.Compare(heap[child], this.heap[child + 1]) < 0)
+          (this.comparer.Compare(heap[child], this.heap[child + 1]) < 0);
-        )
+
+        if(needsToBeMoved)
           ++child;
 
         this.heap[index] = this.heap[child];
         index = child;
         child = getLeftChild(index);
+
       }
 
       bubbleUp(index, item);

Source/Collections/RingMemoryStream.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/RingMemoryStream.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/TransformingReadOnlyCollection.Interfaces.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Collections/TransformingReadOnlyCollection.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Licensing/LicenseKey.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Licensing/LicenseKey.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/ArevaloRectanglePacker.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/ArevaloRectanglePacker.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/CygonRectanglePacker.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/CygonRectanglePacker.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/OutOfSpaceException.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/RectanglePacker.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/RectanglePacker.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/SimpleRectanglePacker.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Packing/SimpleRectanglePacker.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Parsing/CommandLineParser.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/PathHelper.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Plugins/Attributes.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Attribute that prevents a class from being seen by the PluginHost</summary>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   When this attribute is attached to a class it will be invisible to the
+  ///   PluginHost and not become accessable as a plugin.
+  /// </remarks>
+  [AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Class, AllowMultiple = false)]
+  public class NoPluginAttribute : System.Attribute {
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes an instance of the NoPluginAttributes</summary>
+    public NoPluginAttribute() : base() { }
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/Employer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Plugin type employer</summary>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   This class is used by the plugin host to assess whether a concrete type found
+  ///   in a plugin assembly is suited to be processed the plugin user. If so,
+  ///   the employer can employ the type. Employing can typically mean to create an
+  ///   instance of the type in the plugin assembly or to build a runtime-factory
+  ///   that can create instances of the type when it is needed.
+  /// </remarks>
+  public abstract class Employer {
+
+    /// <summary>Determines whether the type suites the employer's requirements</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type which will be assessed</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the type can be employed</returns>
+    public virtual bool CanEmploy(Type type) {
+      return Support.HasDefaultConstructor(type);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Employs the specified plugin type</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type to be employed</param>
+    public abstract void Employ(Type type);
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/FactoryEmployer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Abstract factory</summary>
+  /// <typeparam name="T">Interface or base class of the product of the factory</typeparam>
+  public interface IFactory<T> {
+
+    /// <summary>The concrete type as implemented by the factory instance</summary>
+    Type ConcreteType { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>Creates a new instance of the type to which the factory is specialized</summary>
+    /// <returns>The newly created instance</returns>
+    T CreateInstance();
+
+  }
+
+  /// <summary>Employer to create factories of suiting types found in plugins</summary>
+  /// <typeparam name="T">Interface or base class that the types need to implement</typeparam>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   <para>
+  ///     This employer will not directly instanciate any compatible types found in
+  ///     plugin assemblies, but generated runtime-factories of these types, enabling the
+  ///     user to decide when and how many instances of a type will be created.
+  ///   </para>
+  ///   <para>
+  ///     This approach has the advantage that it enables even assemblies that were not
+  ///     intended to be plugins can be loaded as plugins, without risking an instanciation
+  ///     or complex and possibly heavy-weight types. The disadvantage is that the
+  ///     runtime-factory can not provide decent informationa about the plugin type like
+  ///     a human-readable name, capabilities or an icon.
+  ///   </para>
+  /// </remarks>
+  public class FactoryEmployer<T> : Employer {
+
+    #region class Factory
+
+    /// <summary>Concrete factory for the types in a plugin assembly</summary>
+    private class Factory : IFactory<T> {
+
+      /// <summary>Initializes a factory and configures it for the specified product</summary>
+      /// <param name="type">Type of which the factory creates instances</param>
+      public Factory(Type type) {
+        this.concreteType = type;
+      }
+
+      /// <summary>The concrete type as produced by the factory</summary>
+      public Type ConcreteType {
+        get { return this.concreteType; }
+      }
+
+      /// <summary>Create a new instance of the type that the factory is configured to</summary>
+      /// <returns>The newly created instance</returns>
+      public T CreateInstance() {
+        return (T)Activator.CreateInstance(this.concreteType);
+      }
+
+      /// <summary>Concrete product which the factory instance creates</summary>
+      private Type concreteType;
+
+    }
+
+    #endregion // class Factory
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes a new FactoryEmployer</summary>
+    public FactoryEmployer() {
+      this.employedFactories = new List<IFactory<T>>();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>List of all factories that the instance employer has created</summary>
+    public List<IFactory<T>> Factories {
+      get { return this.employedFactories; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Determines whether the type suites the employer's requirements</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type which will be assessed</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the type can be employed</returns>
+    public override bool CanEmploy(Type type) {
+      return
+        Support.HasDefaultConstructor(type) &&
+        typeof(T).IsAssignableFrom(type);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Employs the specified plugin type</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type to be employed</param>
+    public override void Employ(Type type) {
+      this.employedFactories.Add(new Factory(type));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>All factories that the instance employer has created</summary>
+    private List<IFactory<T>> employedFactories;
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/InstanceEmployer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Employer that directly creates instances of the types in a plugin</summary>
+  /// <typeparam name="T">Interface or base class required for the employed types</typeparam>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   <para>
+  ///     This employer directly creates an instance of any type in a plugin assembly that
+  ///     implements or is derived from the type the generic InstanceEmployer is instanced
+  ///     to. This is useful when the plugin user already has a special plugin interface
+  ///     through which additional informations about a plugin type can be queried or
+  ///     when actually exactly one instance per plugin type is wanted (think of the
+  ///     prototype pattern for example)
+  ///   </para>
+  ///   <para>
+  ///     Because this employer blindly creates an instance of any compatible type found
+  ///     in a plugin assembly it should be used with care. If big types with high
+  ///     construction time or huge memory requirements are loaded this can become
+  ///     a real resource hog. The intention of this employer was to let the plugin user
+  ///     define his own factory interface which possibly provides further details about
+  ///     the type the factory is reponsible for (like a description field). This
+  ///     factory would then be implemented on the plugin side.
+  ///   </para>
+  /// </remarks>
+  public class InstanceEmployer<T> : Employer {
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes a new instance employer</summary>
+    public InstanceEmployer() {
+      this.employedInstances = new List<T>();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>All instances that have been employed</summary>
+    public List<T> Instances {
+      get { return this.employedInstances; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Determines whether the type suites the employer's requirements</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type that is checked for employability</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the type can be employed</returns>
+    public override bool CanEmploy(Type type) {
+      return
+        Support.HasDefaultConstructor(type) &&
+        typeof(T).IsAssignableFrom(type);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Employs the specified plugin type</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type to be employed</param>
+    public override void Employ(Type type) {
+      this.employedInstances.Add((T)Activator.CreateInstance(type));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>All instances employed by the instance employer</summary>
+    private List<T> employedInstances;
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/PluginHelper.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Supporting functions for the assembly</summary>
+  internal static class Support {
+
+    /// <summary>Determines whether the given type has a default constructor</summary>
+    /// <param name="type">Type which is to be checked</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the type has a default constructor</returns>
+    public static bool HasDefaultConstructor(Type type) {
+      System.Reflection.ConstructorInfo[] constructors = type.GetConstructors();
+
+      foreach(System.Reflection.ConstructorInfo constructor in constructors)
+        if(constructor.IsPublic && (constructor.GetParameters().Length != 0))
+          return true;
+
+      return false;
+    }
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/PluginHost.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+using System.Reflection;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Integration host for plugins</summary>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   This class is created by the party that is interested in loading plugins,
+  ///   herein referred to as the "plugin user". The plugin host will monitor a
+  ///   repository and react to any assembly being loaded into that repository by
+  ///   iterating over all types (as in classes and structures) found in the
+  ///   assembly and using the employer to do whatever the plugin user intends 
+  ///   to do with the types found in that assembly
+  /// </remarks>
+  public class PluginHost {
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes a plugin host using a new repository</summary>
+    /// <param name="employer">Employer used assess and employ the plugin types</param>
+    public PluginHost(Employer employer)
+      : this(employer, new PluginRepository()) { }
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes the plugin using an existing repository</summary>
+    /// <param name="employer">Employer used assess and employ the plugin types</param>
+    /// <param name="repository">Repository in which plugins will be stored</param>
+    public PluginHost(Employer employer, PluginRepository repository) {
+      this.employer = employer;
+      this.repository = repository;
+
+      foreach(Assembly assembly in this.repository.LoadedPlugins)
+        employAssemblyTypes(assembly);
+
+      this.repository.AssemblyLoaded += new AssemblyLoadEventHandler(assemblyLoadHandler);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>The repository containing all loaded plugins</summary>
+    public PluginRepository Repository {
+      get { return this.repository; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>The employer that is used by this plugin integration host</summary>
+    public Employer Employer {
+      get { return this.employer; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Responds to a new plugin being loaded into the repository</summary>
+    /// <param name="sender">Repository into which the assembly was loaded</param>
+    /// <param name="arguments">Event arguments; contains the loaded assembly</param>
+    private void assemblyLoadHandler(object sender, AssemblyLoadEventArgs arguments) {
+      employAssemblyTypes(arguments.LoadedAssembly);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Employs all employable types in an assembly</summary>
+    /// <param name="assembly">Assembly whose types to assess and to employ</param>
+    private void employAssemblyTypes(Assembly assembly) {
+
+      // Iterate all types contained in the assembly
+      foreach(Type type in assembly.GetTypes()) {
+
+        // We'll ignore abstract and non-public types
+        if(!type.IsPublic || type.IsAbstract)
+          continue;
+
+        // Types that have been tagged with the [NoPlugin] attribute will be ignored
+        object[] attributes = type.GetCustomAttributes(true);
+        foreach(object attribute in attributes)
+          if(attribute is NoPluginAttribute)
+            continue;
+
+        // Type seems to be acceptable, assess and possibly employ it
+        try {
+          if(this.employer.CanEmploy(type))
+            this.employer.Employ(type);
+        }
+        catch(Exception exception) {
+          System.Console.WriteLine(
+            "Could not employ " + type.ToString() + ": " + exception.Message
+          );
+        }
+
+      }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Employs and manages types in the loaded plugin assemblies</summary>
+    private Employer employer;
+    /// <summary>Repository containing all plugins loaded, shared with other hosts</summary>
+    private PluginRepository repository;
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Plugins/PluginRepository.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#region CPL License
+/*
+Nuclex Framework
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
+
+This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as
+published by the IBM Corporation; either version 1.0 of the
+License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+IBM Common Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the IBM Common Public
+License along with this library
+*/
+#endregion
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Reflection;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins {
+
+  /// <summary>Stores loaded plugins</summary>
+  /// <remarks>
+  ///   This class manages a set of assemblies that have been dynamically loaded 
+  ///   as plugins. It usually is shared by multiple PluginHosts that handle
+  ///   different interfaces of one plugin type.
+  /// </remarks>
+  public class PluginRepository {
+
+    /// <summary>Triggered whenever a new assembly is loaded into this repository</summary>
+    public event AssemblyLoadEventHandler AssemblyLoaded;
+
+    /// <summary>Initializes a new instance of the plugin repository</summary>
+    public PluginRepository() {
+      this.assemblies = new List<Assembly>();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Loads all plugins matching a wildcard specification</summary>
+    /// <param name="wildcard">Path of one or more plugins via wildcard</param>
+    /// <remarks>
+    ///   This function always assumes that a plugin is optional. This means that
+    ///   even when you specify a unique file name and a matching file is not found,
+    ///   no exception will be raised and the error is silently ignored.
+    /// </remarks>
+    public void AddFiles(string wildcard) {
+      string directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(wildcard);
+      string search = Path.GetFileName(wildcard);
+
+      // We'll scan the specified directory for all files matching the specified
+      // wildcard. If only a single file is specified, only that file will match
+      // the supposed wildcard and everything works as expected
+      string[] assemblyFiles = Directory.GetFiles(directory, search);
+      foreach(string assemblyFile in assemblyFiles) {
+
+        // A lot of errors can occur when attempting to load an assembly...
+        try {
+          AddAssembly(Assembly.LoadFile(assemblyFile));
+        }
+        // File not found - Most likely a missing dependency of the assembly we
+        // attempted to load since the assembly itself has been found by the GetFiles() method
+        catch(DllNotFoundException exception) {
+          System.Console.WriteLine(
+            "Assembly not found, missing dependencies? " + exception.Message
+          );
+        }
+        // Unauthorized acccess - Either the assembly is not trusted because it contains
+        // code that imposes a security risk on the system or a user rights problem
+        catch(UnauthorizedAccessException exception) {
+          System.Console.WriteLine(
+            "Not authorized, user rights problem? " + exception.Message
+          );
+        }
+        // Bad image format - This exception is often thrown when the assembly we
+        // attempted to load requires a different version of the .NET framework
+        catch(BadImageFormatException exception) {
+          System.Console.WriteLine(
+            "Not a .NET assembly or wrong runtime version. " + exception.Message
+          );
+        }
+        // Unknown error - Our last resort is to show a default error message
+        catch(Exception exception) {
+          System.Console.WriteLine(
+            "Failed to load plugin. " + exception.Message
+          );
+        }
+
+      }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Adds the specified assembly to the repository</summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    ///   Also used internally, so any assembly that is to be put into the repository,
+    ///   not matter how, wanders through this method
+    /// </remarks>
+    public void AddAssembly(Assembly assembly) {
+      this.assemblies.Add(assembly);
+
+      // Trigger event in case any subscribers have been registered
+      if(AssemblyLoaded != null)
+        AssemblyLoaded(this, new AssemblyLoadEventArgs(assembly));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>List of all loaded plugin assemblies in the repository</summary>
+    public List<Assembly> LoadedAssemblies {
+      get { return this.assemblies; }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Loaded plugin assemblies</summary>
+    private List<Assembly> assemblies;
+
+  }
+
+} // namespace Nuclex.Support.Plugins

Source/Scheduling/AbortedException.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/IAbortable.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/Operation.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/QueueOperation.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/QueueOperation.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/ThreadCallbackOperation.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Scheduling/ThreadOperation.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Serialization/BinarySerializer.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Serialization/BinarySerializer.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Serialization/IBinarySerializable.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/SpatialPartitioning/BoundingRectangle.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/SpatialPartitioning/RTree2.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/SpatialPartitioning/RTreeLeaf2.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/SpatialPartitioning/RTreeNode2.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/SpatialPartitioning/SpatialIndex2.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/IStatusReporter.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/IdleStateEventArgs.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/Internal/ObservedWeightedProgression.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/Internal/WeightedProgressionWrapperCollection.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/ProgressUpdateEventArgs.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/Progression.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/ProgressionTracker.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/ProgressionTracker.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/SetProgression.Test.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/SetProgression.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/StatusReportEventArgs.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/Tracking/WeightedProgression.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as

Source/WeakReference.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #region CPL License
 /*
 Nuclex Framework
-Copyright (C) 2002-2007 Nuclex Development Labs
+Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Nuclex Development Labs
 
 This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 modify it under the terms of the IBM Common Public License as