How to Create a Vorlon.js Plugin

Vorlon.js: A Cross-Platform Web Debugging Tool and Plugin Development Guide

Vorlon.js is an open-source, platform-independent tool designed for debugging websites across various devices, bridging the gap left by browser-specific debuggers. This guide explores Vorlon.js plugin creation, enabling developers to extend its functionality.

Key Concepts:

• Platform Agnostic: Vorlon.js works across different browsers and operating systems, unlike browser-specific debugging tools.
• Plugin Architecture: Extensibility is achieved through plugins, allowing developers to add custom debugging features.
• Client-Dashboard Communication: Plugins manage data flow between the client website and the Vorlon.js dashboard.

Creating a Vorlon.js Plugin:

Plugin development involves writing JavaScript (or TypeScript) code that interacts with both the client and dashboard components of Vorlon.js. This process includes:

1. Defining a Plugin Class: A JavaScript class inheriting from the Plugin class is created. This class handles data communication and dashboard rendering.

2. Essential Methods: Specific methods like getID(), startClientSide(), and startDashboardSide() manage the plugin's lifecycle and data flow. getID() provides a unique identifier. startClientSide() initializes client-side functionality (e.g., event listeners). startDashboardSide() handles dashboard rendering and updates.

3. Data Communication: The Core.Messenger.sendRealtimeMessage() function facilitates real-time data exchange between the client and dashboard.

4. Dashboard Rendering: The plugin's user interface is defined in an HTML file (e.g., control.html), loaded and managed using _insertHtmlContentAsync within startDashboardSide().

5. Deployment: After development, the plugin is compiled (if using TypeScript), minified, and added to the Vorlon.js server configuration (catalog.json).

Example: Device Information Plugin

A simple plugin demonstrating device information (screen size) is presented. This plugin gathers data from the client and displays it on the Vorlon.js dashboard.

The plugin's code involves:

• Client-side JavaScript to collect device dimensions and send them to the dashboard using sendRealtimeMessage().
• Dashboard-side JavaScript (onRealtimeMessageReceivedFromClientSide()) to receive and display the data.
• HTML (control.html) to structure the dashboard display.
• CSS (control.css) for styling.

Testing and Deployment:

1. Compilation and Minification: Compile TypeScript code (if used) and minify the resulting JavaScript for optimal performance.

2. Server Integration: Place the plugin files (HTML, CSS, JS) in the Vorlon.js server's public/vorlon/plugins directory, creating a folder named after the plugin's ID.

3. Catalog Registration: Add the plugin to the server's catalog.json file to register it with the dashboard.

4. Server Start: Start the Vorlon.js server.

5. Client Integration: Include the Vorlon.js client script in your website's code.

6. Dashboard Access: Access the Vorlon.js dashboard via the specified URL (e.g., http://localhost:1337/dashboard/default).

This detailed guide provides a comprehensive overview of Vorlon.js plugin development, empowering developers to create custom debugging tools and enhance their workflow. The provided example and steps facilitate a practical understanding of the process. Further information and resources are available at https://www.php.cn/link/64cd16e5e16f6202eb5bd42f2f2e8ecc.

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