Bug 75208 – [GTK] No function to create empty WebPluginDatabase

• Component: Plug-ins
• Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

[Jiří Janoušek]

WebCore allows to create empty global PluginDatabase via PluginDatabase::installedPlugins(false), but WebKitGTK+ provides only function webkit_get_web_plugin_database() that creates global populated database via PluginDatabase::installedPlugins() (default value of argument is true). I suggest to add new function webkit_get_empty_web_plugin_database() using PluginDatabase::installedPlugins(false).

My reason for this feature request: I created specialized browser for cloud music services providing integration with Linux desktop (multimedia keys, etc.) and I use WebKit to embed cloud music websites. The Flash plugin is the only plugin I need, other plugins increase memory usage and may cause other issues (e.g. LibreOffice plugin was reported to open LibreOffice window when initialized). With this feature I could use special directory containing only symlink to flashplugin and use webkit_web_settings_add_extra_plugin_directory() to load it.

[Martin Robinson]

Why not just disable all plugins except Flash?

[Jiří Janoušek]

I tried to disable all plugins except Flash (webkit_web_plugin_database_get_plugins() → webkit_web_plugin_set_enabled(plugin, false) → webkit_web_plugin_database_refresh()), but

1) all plugins are still initialized and buggy plugins cause problems when initialized (e.g. LibreOffice plugin). I know it isn't issue of WebKit, but users don't care ...

2) all plugins are still loaded in memory, even if disabled

[Martin Robinson]

Interesting issue. CCing Xan as he wrote the original API. My inclination is that if simply loading a plugin causes issues we should really focus on fixing those issues instead of baptizing work-arounds in the API.

[Martin Robinson]

The GTK+ port of WebKit1 has been removed.