Launch application from plugin

[djwero]

Hi Guys.



I’ve got an idea for a good plugin (well… it’s more of a mod really) I want to make. But… for it to do what I want it to do, I need to to be able to start and quit an application in the background of Plex. Is this possible with plugins, or if not, is it possible from skinning?





Cheers.

[sansnipple]

what kind of application exactly? for just small CLI helper programs/utilities or other non-gui processes that will run inline with the plugin (or in a background thread), then yes, there’re a couple ways to handle it, you can use the framework’s Helper module, or for more flexibility, Python’s subprocess module. as for launching full GUI apps that will exit plex and take focus, like plex’s applications menu works, then no, plugins arent really able to do that at the moment.

[djwero]

what kind of application exactly? for just small CLI helper programs/utilities or other non-gui processes that will run inline with the plugin (or in a background thread), then yes, there're a couple ways to handle it, you can use the framework's [Helper module](http://dev.plexapp.com/docs/mod_Helper.html), or for more flexibility, [Python's subprocess module](http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess.html). as for launching full GUI apps that will exit plex and take focus, like plex's applications menu works, then no, plugins arent really able to do that at the moment.

Hi. Thanks for the response.

My idea mainly comes due to the fact I have Plex running on my Mac mini. I also use my Mac Mini for downloading lots of Linux ISOs :) Both through Transmission and Sabnzbd+. My thoughts basically was to have a Downloads section on the main menu. It then detects whether Transmission and Sabnzbd+ are running, and lets you Launch or Quit them. I'll then create/modify the transmission/sabnzd plugins and then I'll be a happy bunny.

My reasoning for this, especially with sabnzbd is that it slows my mac mini down and I loose frames a lot of the time. And having to VNC in to turn these applications on and off is a bit of a pain.

Thinking about it more though.. I should just buy a Harmony remote and launch/quit them with that, and then just use the transmission/sabnzbd plugins to check on downloads and stuff.


Depends how much of a pain it is to be honest, if it ends up being more trouble than it's worth I'll just get a harmony remote.

[jwray]

Another approach, at least with sabnzdb, is to use their API to pause and resume as needed (http://wiki.sabnzbd.org/api#toc25). The API calls are just HTTP requests and so can be made directly from a plugin.



Jonny

[djwero]

Another approach, at least with sabnzdb, is to use their API to pause and resume as needed (http://wiki.sabnzbd.org/api#toc25). The API calls are just HTTP requests and so can be made directly from a plugin.

Jonny

Thanks Jonny.