> > 1) none - host can autogenerate from hints > > 2) layout - plugin provides XML or something suggesting it's UI, host draws > > it > > 3) graphics+layout - plugin provides XML or something as well as graphics - > > host is responsible for animating according to plugin spec > > These three are not useful, because it doesn't allow custom UI objects to > be drawn, eg. compressor curves, meters etc, which is the whole point.
simple plugins will get by using the first two, and 'l33t h4x0rz' will dig the third because they can make some eye-candy. > > 4) total - plugin provides binary UI code (possibly bytecode or lib calls) > > bytecode would be too slow I think, the maths for some UI work is quite > heavy. I agree - but JIT is pretty powerful nowadays. Not saying it is a road we should embark upon. I think a portable GUI lib is the right answer, myself. libVSTGui => libxapgui.