fext

Fext is an open-source extension framework designed to simplify the development, distribution, and runtime management of plugins and integrations across software platforms. It provides a minimal core, a cross-language plugin API, a modular registry, and an event-driven messaging system. Designed for isolation and security, Fext supports declarative manifests, versioned dependencies, and sandboxed execution of third-party extensions.

Fext emerged in 2014 from a collaboration among developers working on content management systems and development environments. The first public release, Fext 0.1, appeared in 2015, focusing on plugin loading and basic event dispatch. Subsequent releases expanded the API, added bindings for popular languages, and introduced a centralized extension repository.

Its architecture centers on a thin runtime, a plugin lifecycle, and an extension registry. Plugins declare dependencies and capabilities via a manifest file; the runtime resolves versions, enforces isolation boundaries, and routes events through an asynchronous bus. Language bindings, sandboxing, and a formal security model aim to minimize the risk from untrusted code.

Fext has been adopted by several content management systems, integrated development environments, and data processing pipelines to support modular features without embedding plugins directly into core code. The framework emphasizes stable APIs and backward compatibility to reduce breaking changes during upgrades.

Fext is maintained by an open-source community with governance guidelines that encourage transparency, code reviews, and documentation. Releases are versioned, and a lightweight license ensures broad reuse while preserving attribution.