Writing extensions

Albert can be extended using C++ or Python.

The sections on the C++ and Python interfaces do not serve as general guides, but rather focus on their particular interface and its peculiarities. Thus, before you start reading the details, you should understand the basics and have read the general concepts of Albert extension.

• Native plugins:
  • Performance and power of C++.
  • Benefits of the native access to Qt:
    • Asynchronous operation.
    • Built-in internationalization.
    • Qt is a mature and well-documented framework.
  • Hardly any limitations.
• Python plugins:
  • Python is easy, allows rapid prototyping and is easy to distribute.
  • Theres a library for almost everything you’d want to achieve on PyPI.
  • Limited subset of the internal API.
  • No asynchronous operation.
  • No streamlined translations.
  • Does not allow effective parallelized multi-threading due to the GIL.