Suggestion/discussion: modularize oF

Hello,
I saw you are restructuring oF quite a bit. I'd like to suggest to make oF more modular. Right now it is one bit framework and I use it for lot of different programming jobs. But lets say I am building a command line tool or a simple server, then I like to keep it as minimal as possible, without graphics and audio stuff.
Ideally I could just use the modules, which are really needed. Maybe we could split it into modules/addons like core, audio, graphics, network, ...

Also things like ofSerial and the firmata classes could live as an addon. I think ofxOsc is used more often than ofSerial and it is an addon. Do other classes depend on ofSerial? I don't see why one is an addon and the other one part of the core.

Here are some advantages I see:

• Apps would be less error prone.
• Probably easier to maintain, test, debug.
• oF could be used even on non supported devices, by just not using critical modules, e.g. graphics module on micro computers.
• oF modules could be used inside other frameworks, e.g. oF core inside Qt

I know this would be a big change, but I would like to know your opinions. What are the cons?

Thomas

Start by reviewing the proposed separation of core, audio, graphics, and network modules, including whether ofSerial and the firmata classes should become addons while ofxOsc remains an addon. Done would require an agreed modular architecture and resolved dependency and support implications for command-line tools, servers, and unsupported devices.