---
source_files:
  - Common/DTS.Common.Core/PluginLib/PluginConfigData.cs
  - Common/DTS.Common.Core/PluginLib/PluginConfig.cs
  - Common/DTS.Common.Core/PluginLib/PluginConfigSectionHandler.cs
  - Common/DTS.Common.Core/PluginLib/PluginManager.cs
generated_at: "2026-04-17T15:36:54.153860+00:00"
model: "zai-org/GLM-5-FP8"
schema_version: 1
sha256: "9804f9dd2a12c0c7"
---

# PluginLib Module Documentation

## 1. Purpose

The `PluginLib` module provides a Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF)-based plugin system for the DTS application. It handles discovery, loading, and retrieval of plugins from configurable directories, supporting both single-plugin resolution and multiple implementations of the same contract. The module implements a thread-safe singleton pattern to manage the plugin catalog and container lifecycle.

---

## 2. Public Interface

### PluginManager (Class)
The primary entry point for plugin operations.

**Properties:**
- `AggregateCatalog PluginCatalog { get; set; }` — The MEF aggregate catalog containing all loaded plugin catalogs.

**Methods:**

| Signature | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| `public static T GetPlugin<T>() where T : class` | Retrieves a single MEF export of type `T`. Returns `null` if no export exists. |
| `public static T GetPlugin<T>(string configPluginSetting) where T : class` | Retrieves a specific plugin from multiple exports by matching `configPluginSetting` against the plugin's `ToString()` value. |
| `public static IEnumerable<Lazy<T>> GetPlugins<T>() where T : class` | Returns all MEF exports of type `T` as lazy-initialized references. |
| `public static PluginManager GetPluginManager(string appPath)` | Returns the singleton instance of `PluginManager`. Initializes the manager on first call with the provided `appPath`. |
| `public List<Assembly> GetPluginList<T>() where T : class` | Returns a list of distinct assemblies from all loaded directory catalogs. |

### PluginConfig (Static Class)
Stores plugin configuration constants and helpers.

**Constants:**
- `public const string DTSPlugins = "DTSPlugins"`