[KaosDG]

I posted this to the Mac OS X Dev list, but got only 1 response... so I'm trying here (and other places)

I'm looking into writing an iTunes plug-in, and the only documentation on writing plug-ins happens to be for visual plugins.

The plugin I want to write doesn't need to draw anything special to the screen, so the iTunes Visual SDK from Apple isn't helping me any.

Also, I'd like to have it running at all times, not just when visuals are turned on (command-T in the visuals menu)

Does anyone know of any documentation, or has anyone done anything of this nature?

[00101001]

What exactly do you want this plugin to do?

[lucylawless]

is it like the Arboretum Realizer (or something) audio plugin for SoundJam? Maybe the dev kit for SoundJam might be of some help. you can still get it at soundjammp.com

[KaosDG]

sorry for not posting sooner, my firewall died on me.

Anyhow, I just want to pop up a little window when the song changes, with like the artist, title, album...

(this is all for my own need, dunno how useful it would be for others)

I run iTunes headless (read: windowless)

I'd like to have some way of knowing what song just came on, and if possible display it again via a hotkey whenever I want to know.

I could do this as a visual plugin I guess, since I will not be needing the main iTunes window for anything either, but I digress.

I figure this is not really a normal "visual" (as in eyecandy) effect, more of a utilitarian thing.

[00101001]

If you look at the iTunes visual plugin example on apple's site, they show functions for how to intercept messages sent to the plugin when a song changes -- not sure how you would create a window from this -- or whether the plugin would be considered "running" if you had the window closed... or whether you can program "non-visual" plugins... anybody know?

[KaosDG]

Originally posted by 00101001:
or whether the plugin would be considered "running" if you had the window closed... or whether you can program "non-visual" plugins... anybody know?

This is what I want to know.. if there is a way to have the plugin running without telling iTunes (via command-T)

If it can, than the SDK they have would be great... so far there is no luck on that.

and I also hope the SDK supports cocoa.

[00101001]

hmmm... well I know the SDK supports opening up a Nib file containing a window for your visualizer prefs... I wonder if you can hack this to do what you want... I'll start futsin' around with it