You can now write plugins for Path Finder.  Some existing feature of Path Finder were converted to plugins and are included as examples.  These includes: Hex Viewer, Get Info, Image Converter, Disk Image and a sample plugin.  

Writing a Path Finder plugins is very simple.

Start by duplicating the "Sample Plugin" and change the plugin to do what you want it to do.  Be sure to follow the notes inside the Sample Plugin.  There are a few things you must do in order for your plugin to run properly in Path Finder.

Compile it and put the resulting plugin in your ~/Library/Application Support/Path Finder/Plugins folder.  Path Finder will load plugins from this folder and add them to its Plugins menu item in the Contextual menu and the Commands menu.

This is the first version of the Plugin SDK.  I plan on making it more powerful as it matures.  I also plan on creating a plugin system for the preview window, and I'm going to make the icon/list/column views plugins too.  Please let me know what you need to create your killer plugin.  

Some of the sample plugins require the CocoaTech Frameworks.  Compile those first before compiling the plugins.  The Sample Plugin does not rely on the CocoaTech frameworks.

If you make a great plugin, I'll include it in the default distribution of Path Finder!

Some plugin ideas:
- batch rename
- batch copy/move
- backup utility
- integrated terminal window/view
- shelf
- favorites bar
- improve the hex viewer and make it a hex editor
- improve the image converter plugin to be able to open and save all formats
- improve the get info plugin
- specialized editor/previewer windows for specific file types
- improved find window with more features

The great thing about plugins is they don't have to be large full featured apps, you just have to write a single window interface that doesn't a single function.  I'm using the OmniFrameworks for my preferences window.  This accepts plugins too, so your plugin can have it's own preference panel.

Steve Gehrman
steve@cocoatech.com
http://www.cocoatech.com/opensource