Release and debug mixed?

[Mukkie]

Hello! Context: - Release version of application (written in C++/MFC) is shipped to the users - Some users want to write plugins (dll's) for this application Problem: - memory allocator is different for debug version and release version Possible solutions: - Final application will ship in two versions: release, and release with debug parts - User will not be able to develop debug version of plugin, only release version Well, both above solutions are not so good (I do not know other solutions, maybe apart of rewriting everything to COM). But the question is, what should be set in release version of app to allow users to use debug version of it's own plugin? And, what is more important: what will be the impact of using debug components in release version? (This is not really matter of speed, but a matter of cracking the app) confused Thanks for some help...any help :)

[John R Shaw]

Releasing a debug version of you app is a matter of trust, since it make it easer of cracker (reverse engineering) easer. If error checking is at a high enough level then users of your app who wish to develop plugins can use the release version of you app. How you allocate memory, in the debug version, is irrelevent to the development of a plugin. The only reasons for providing a debug version of your application is to provide more information to the plugin developer to help with debuging his/her code and or to get feed back as to why a bug in thier plugin caused a problem in your application (could be very usefull). I know you have a lot to think about, but weigh your decision carefully. If you can, place youself in the position of the plugin designer and try to develop a plugin for the release version. Write down what the plugin designer knows about the development of a plugin for your application and try to think from their perscpective (if they could not know it then put it out of your mind). This will not only help you get theit perspective on developing plugins for you application but help you determine what information that you need to release to make it easer for them. I do not know if any of this helped you. Just remember in order to help the other guy/girl you first must place youself in thier shoes. INTP