You've probably noticed that just about any application of any real
significance these days has the capability to be expanded in some way.
Usually these are called "plug-ins", although they are also called snap-ins
(Windows 2000), add-ons, add-ins (Outlook 2000), ActiveX Controls (Internet
Explorer) and filters (Adobe Photoshop, as well as any number of other
descriptive names.
The concept is simple, and the benefits are tremendous. Create an "engine"
with basic functionality and allow for expansion by third-parties in a
standard and organized way. Thus, for example, even though Adobe Photoshop
performs an incredibly number of functions all on it's own, the authors felt
it was necessary to allow others to contribute their skills. They did this
by providing plug-ins and filters.
This also, not entirely coincidentally, got around the concept of "open
source" which has been debated all over the internet for years. Pure open
source is code which can be downloaded and modified by anyone - Unix is a
good example of this. At the other extreme is virtually all of Microsoft's
products - the sources are not made available to anyone except under
specific and [legally] controlled circumstances. Plug-ins get around this
argument by allowing the product to be expanded and it's behavior changed
without releasing the source code to the general public.
The concept of plug-ins actually came into reality back in 1995. The
Netscape browser developers had a problem - there were few, if any, accepted
graphics and multimedia (videos, sound and such) standards available on the
web, yet the browser had to be capable of displaying graphics and
multimedia. The developers did not want to restrict their browser to just a
few standards (which may or may not have become accepted) and they certainly
did not want to release a new browser every time a new multimedia format was
created.
Thus plug-ins were born. This solved the problem very well. There was now no
need to restrict formats or modify and distribute a new browser. All that
needed to be done was create a plug in which handled the format. And best of
all (for Netscape) this plug-in was generally created by some other company.
There were problems with the plug-in concept, however.
- Back in the days of slow modems, it could take a very long time to
download a plug-in
- Plug-ins could crash the operating system or cause it to become unstable.
- If a visitor chose not to install a plug-in, then the multimedia object
would not display.
- Malicious designers could conceivably introduce security risks through the
use of plug-ins.
Soon afterwards Microsoft got on the bandwagon with it's own version of
plug-ins for Internet Explorer. They called their version ActiveX and made
them a little more automatic (by adding some custom code to the operating
system). Ask anyone at Microsoft (especially at the training classes) and
you be told that the future is ActiveX. However, these controls have exactly
the same problem as plug-ins with a terrible security model to boot (any
security model which requires an end-user to make a decision as to whether
or not unknown code is trustworthy is certain to fail).
Okay, how does this all relate to graphics? Well, plug-ins and ActiveX
controls are the way you can expand the functions of your browser to include
new and occasionally wonderful things.
Plug-ins include:
- Macromedia flash (quickly becoming one of the most popular formats)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (now the standard for web document publication)
- Quicktime (a video format)
- Shockwave (another popular plug-in
- Real Player (a very compressed video and audio format)
There are hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of other plug-ins and ActiveX
controls available for your browser.
Web Site Design Notes
Okay, this is all fine and dandy, but do you really need or want plug-ins on
your web site? Well, that's up to you. Some of the reasons for including
plug-ins are:
- You can make your web site more interesting and different.
- Plug-ins can be fun to use
- You can add things to your web site that cannot otherwise be added
Why wouldn't you want to include plug-ins?
- They tend to scare away visitors who don't know what they are
- Your pages become unattractive or non-functional if your visitors do not
choose to download and install the plug-in
- If the provider of the plug-in ceases business operations, then you may be
stuck with a website that you cannot maintain or improve
- Plug-ins are often frowned upon because they add a security risk to your
visitors systems, they require long downloads (and sometimes reboots for
installation), and they can make systems unstable.
- Your site sometimes inherits the reputation of the plug-in. For example,
many people consider Comet Cursors to be spyware and very intrusive (as well
as obnoxious and unnecessary) and will not visit your site if you've got
those on your pages. Thus, you site may be considered "bad" even though it
might be excellent.
In generally, Flash, Shockwave, Acrobat, and Real player are pretty safe
bets. If you want to improve your site with plug-ins, these will do well.
Surfing Notes
Here's the strange thing about plug-ins (as well as ActiveX controls) - they
require you (the surfer) to make a decision: do you or don't you trust the
source of this software?
Personally, I have learned through long and hard experience a golden rule of
owning or using a personal computer:
The less you install on your computer system, the more stable your
computer will be.
You see, plug-ins, especially ActiveX Controls, tend to install things into
your system - things over which you have no control. Worse yet, plug-ins
need to be updated - which means a formerly safe plug-in may become unsafe
due to sloppy coding practices or other problems.
My advice is very simple. I have installed the major plug-ins: Acrobat,
Flash, Shockwave and Real Player. These are made by large companies and have
established track records for safety and value. There are a few other
plug-ins which are reasonably safe: Crescendo comes to mind. I would use
extreme caution when installing other plug-ins and especially ActiveX
controls. If you don't know, and I mean know without a shadow of a doubt,
that the thing is safe, then don't install it. If you do decide to install
something, make sure you've got a good backup of your system and data.
About the Author
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This
website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet
profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
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