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.
Why not just disable all plugins except Flash?
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
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.
The GTK+ port of WebKit1 has been removed.