Concepts

Introduction to lla's plugin system and architecture. Learn how to extend lla's core functionality through plugins that can add new commands, modify displays, and integrate with external tools. Includes overview of installation, management, and updates.

Extending lla's Capabilities

The heart of lla's extensibility lies in its thoughtfully designed plugin system. Built on a foundation of version independence and robust message passing, this architecture lets you enhance and customize lla while maintaining stability and performance.

Core Design

Our plugin system leverages Protocol Buffers to create a reliable, version-agnostic communication layer. This thoughtful approach ensures:

• Isolated execution for stability and security
• Seamless compatibility across lla versions
• Consistent interface for developers
• Sophisticated data handling capabilities

Getting Started

Add new capabilities to your lla installation:

Note: You will need to install rust to be able to install plugins. you can install rust by running the following command:

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

# Install plugins
lla install --git https://github.com/user/plugin     # From Git repository
lla install --dir path/to/plugin                     # From local directory
 
# Manage your plugins
lla use                    # Interactive management
lla --enable-plugin name   # Enable functionality
lla --disable-plugin name  # Disable when needed

Plugin Organization

Your plugins reside in:

• Standard path: ~/.config/lla/plugins
• Custom location: Define via plugins_dir in config

Keeping Current

Maintain your plugins' health:

lla update                 # Refresh all plugins
lla update plugin_name     # Update specific functionality

Enhancement Categories

Plugins can transform lla in three key areas:

1. Visual Enhancements

   • Custom view formats
   • Enhanced information display
   • Visual styling options

2. Tool Integration

   • Version control awareness
   • External tool connectivity
   • Custom file handlers

3. Command Extensions

   • New functionality
   • Custom operations
   • Workflow automation

Plugin Management

Fine-tune your plugin setup through configuration:

# In ~/.config/lla/config.toml
 
# Active plugins
enabled_plugins = ["git_status", "file_hash"]
 
# Custom plugin location
plugins_dir = "~/custom/plugin/path"