Framework solution

There are two main aspects to implementing extensions. One is the definition of interfaces, and the outline structure required of each type of extension. The other arises if the CMS provides for easy installation of extensions, in which case the way in which extensions are packaged has to be defined. Also, the framework has to include an installer.

Detailed description of the mechanisms of the Aliro installer would take up too much space to include here. The design is described along with some code examples. Also, the ideas behind extension packaging are described, and a definition of the required XML file is provided in Appendix A. As the information provided in packaging is helpful in understanding extension mechanisms, packaging and installation are described before the interfaces and structures for the various extensions.

In a full Aliro implementation, every extension consists entirely of classes. An extension must have at least one class, but may have others if the...