Linux.com: XMMS Plugins: A New Look

“This is ment to be a quick overview, introducing Linux users to
one of the most widely used multimedia systems in Linux: the X
MultiMedia System (XMMS). We will talk about what makes XMMS so
popular, including its plugins. The main reason that XMMS is so
popular, apart from its distinct name, is because it is quite
expandable due to plugins. A Plugin to an application, as the
name implies is a piece of software that, when compiled, can
further expand and extend the functions of the application without
actually recompiling the original source code. To give an example,
if I had a really cool idea for a Scope, I could write it up as a
plugin and never actually worry about including an implementation
in the source code of the XMMS. XMMS itself makes numerous plugins
available for the common user.”

“Plugins are categorized by their functionality. There are
Plugins that add additional Input and Output capabilities. Input
plugins affect how XMMS is going to read the input audio file. For
example you want XMMS to be a able to play AU, or WAV format files,
then you have to install the input plugin that enables you to do
this.”

“Likewise, output plugins control how XMMS will produce output
and where it will be sent. Some Output plugins affect how the
output is sent to the audio device. For example, if you have an
audio card that supports eSound, then the Output plugin to use
would be eSound – one compatible with esd (Enlightenment Sound
Daemon). Other output plugins are available for OSS, and ALSA
compatible audio cards. Output plugins do not necessarily have to
output to audio devices. They could output files and hence, in a
sense, act as a file format converter. Next we have General and
Effects plugins. General and Effects plugins generally deal with
the way one can control XMMS.”

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