Plugin System

Frosty Toolsuite’s plugin system provides a flexible architecture for extending functionality without modifying core code. Plugins can add support for new asset types, custom editors, menu items, and more.

Plugin Architecture

Plugins are .NET assemblies loaded dynamically at runtime. Plugin Discovery:

public class PluginManager
{
    private List<Plugin> m_plugins = new List<Plugin>();
    private List<Plugin> m_loadedPlugins = new List<Plugin>();
    
    public PluginManager(ILogger logger, PluginManagerType context)
    {
        m_managerType = context;
        
        // Scan Plugins directory
        foreach (string item in Directory.EnumerateFiles(
            "Plugins", "*.dll", SearchOption.AllDirectories))
        {
            FileInfo fileInfo = new FileInfo(item);
            m_plugins.Add(LoadPlugin(fileInfo.FullName, PluginLoadType.Startup));
        }
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:122.

Plugin Lifecycle

Plugins are loaded in two phases:

Startup Phase

Loaded before game profile selection:

Profile definitions
Global type editors
Type overrides
Startup actions

Initialize Phase

Loaded after profile is selected:

Asset definitions (game-specific)
Custom handlers
Menu extensions
Tab extensions
Options pages

Loading Process:

public void Initialize()
{
    foreach (Plugin plugin in m_plugins)
    {
        if (IsValidToLoadPlugin(plugin.Assembly))
        {
            LoadDefinitionsFromAssembly(PluginLoadType.Initialize, plugin.Assembly);
            m_loadedPlugins.Add(plugin);
        }
        else
        {
            plugin.Status = PluginLoadStatus.LoadedInvalid;
        }
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:151.

Plugin Attributes

Plugins use assembly-level attributes to declare functionality:

Core Attributes

Plugin Metadata
Profile Validation
Third-Party DLLs

using Frosty.Core.Attributes;

[assembly: PluginDisplayName("My Plugin")]
[assembly: PluginAuthor("Your Name")]
[assembly: PluginVersion("1.0.0.0")]

These attributes provide plugin information in the UI.

// Only load for specific games
[assembly: PluginValidForProfile((int)ProfileVersion.Battlefield5)]
[assembly: PluginValidForProfile((int)ProfileVersion.Battlefield1)]

// Exclude specific games
[assembly: PluginNotValidForProfile((int)ProfileVersion.Fifa18)]

Controls which games the plugin supports.

// Prevent Frosty from loading as plugin
[assembly: RegisterThirdPartyDll("Newtonsoft.Json")]
[assembly: RegisterThirdPartyDll("SharpDX")]

Marks dependency DLLs to skip during plugin scan.

Extension Types

Asset Definitions

Define how asset types are displayed and edited:

[RegisterAssetDefinition("MeshAsset", typeof(MeshAssetDefinition))]
public class MeshAssetDefinition : AssetDefinition
{
    public override void GetSupportedFileTypes(List<string> extensions)
    {
        extensions.Add(".fbx");
        extensions.Add(".obj");
    }
    
    public override bool CanExport(object asset)
    {
        return asset is MeshAsset;
    }
    
    public override async Task<bool> Export(
        EbxAssetEntry entry, 
        string path, 
        string filterType)
    {
        MeshAsset meshAsset = App.AssetManager.GetEbx(entry).RootObject;
        // Export logic...
        return true;
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:452.

Asset definitions registered for a base type automatically apply to all derived types via the TypeLibrary.

Custom Handlers

Provide specialized editing for specific asset types:

EBX Handler
Resource Handler

[RegisterCustomHandler(
    CustomHandlerType.Ebx, 
    "TextureAsset", 
    typeof(TextureAssetHandler))]
public class TextureAssetHandler : ICustomActionHandler
{
    public bool CanEdit(object asset)
    {
        return asset is TextureAsset;
    }
    
    public void Edit(EbxAssetEntry entry)
    {
        // Open texture editor
        TextureEditorWindow window = new TextureEditorWindow(entry);
        window.ShowDialog();
    }
}

[RegisterCustomHandler(
    CustomHandlerType.Res, 
    ResourceType.SwfMovie, 
    typeof(SwfMovieHandler))]
public class SwfMovieHandler : ICustomActionHandler
{
    public void Import(ResAssetEntry entry, string filename)
    {
        // Import SWF file
        byte[] data = File.ReadAllBytes(filename);
        App.AssetManager.ModifyRes(entry.Name, data);
    }
    
    public void Export(ResAssetEntry entry, string filename)
    {
        using (Stream stream = App.AssetManager.GetRes(entry))
        {
            using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(
                filename, FileMode.Create))
            {
                stream.CopyTo(fs);
            }
        }
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:540.

Add custom menu items to the editor:

[RegisterMenuExtension(typeof(MyMenuExtension))]
public class MyMenuExtension : MenuExtension
{
    public override string TopLevelMenuName => "Tools";
    public override string SubLevelMenuName => null;
    public override string MenuItemName => "My Custom Tool";
    
    public override void MenuItemClicked(ILogger logger, object dataContext)
    {
        // Handle menu click
        CustomToolWindow window = new CustomToolWindow();
        window.ShowDialog();
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:485.

Tab Extensions

Add custom tabs to the main editor window:

[RegisterTabExtension(typeof(MyCustomTab))]
public class MyCustomTab : TabExtension
{
    public override string TabItemName => "My Tab";
    public override int TabItemPriority => 100;
    
    public override FrostyTabItem CreateTabItem()
    {
        return new FrostyTabItem
        {
            Content = new MyCustomTabControl(),
            Header = TabItemName
        };
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:524. Add right-click menu items in the asset browser:

[RegisterDataExplorerContextMenu(typeof(ExportAllTexturesMenu))]
public class ExportAllTexturesMenu : DataExplorerContextMenuExtension
{
    public override string ContextItemName => "Export All Textures";
    
    public override bool IsValidForSelection(
        IEnumerable<EbxAssetEntry> selectedAssets)
    {
        return selectedAssets.Any(
            a => a.Type == "TextureAsset");
    }
    
    public override void ContextItemClicked(
        IEnumerable<EbxAssetEntry> selectedAssets, 
        ILogger logger)
    {
        foreach (var asset in selectedAssets)
        {
            if (asset.Type == "TextureAsset")
            {
                // Export texture...
            }
        }
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:530.

Startup Actions

Execute code during application startup:

[RegisterStartupAction(typeof(MyStartupAction))]
public class MyStartupAction : StartupAction
{
    public override void Run(ILogger logger, PluginManagerType type)
    {
        // Initialize libraries
        // Load configuration
        // Register handlers
        logger.Log("MyPlugin initialized");
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:445.

Execution Actions (Mod Manager)

Execute during mod application:

[RegisterExecutionAction(typeof(MyExecutionAction))]
public class MyExecutionAction : ExecutionAction
{
    public override string ActionName => "Custom Asset Patcher";
    
    public override void Execute(
        ILogger logger, 
        IEnumerable<EbxAssetEntry> modifiedAssets)
    {
        // Patch assets during mod application
        foreach (var asset in modifiedAssets)
        {
            // Custom processing...
        }
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:536.

Type System Integration

Global Type Editors

Custom editors for specific field types:

[RegisterGlobalTypeEditor("Vec3", typeof(Vec3Editor))]
public class Vec3Editor : FrostyTypeEditor
{
    public override void CreateUI(object value)
    {
        Vec3 vec = (Vec3)value;
        // Create X, Y, Z input controls
    }
    
    public override object GetValue()
    {
        return new Vec3(xValue, yValue, zValue);
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:441.

Type Overrides

Replace type handling entirely:

[RegisterTypeOverride("LinearTransform", typeof(CustomTransformType))]
public class CustomTransformType
{
    // Custom implementation...
}

From PluginManager.cs:437.

Shader Registration

[assembly: RegisterShader(
    ShaderType.VertexShader, 
    "MyShader", 
    "Shaders.MyVertexShader.cso")]
[assembly: RegisterShader(
    ShaderType.PixelShader, 
    "MyShader", 
    "Shaders.MyPixelShader.cso")]

Shader bytecode must be embedded as manifest resources.

Custom Asset Managers

Handle non-standard asset storage:

[RegisterCustomAssetManager(
    "legacy", 
    typeof(LegacyAssetManager))]
public class LegacyAssetManager : ICustomAssetManager
{
    public void Initialize(ILogger logger)
    {
        // Load legacy file formats
    }
    
    public AssetEntry GetAssetEntry(string key)
    {
        // Retrieve from custom storage
    }
    
    public Stream GetAsset(AssetEntry entry)
    {
        // Read asset data
    }
    
    public void ModifyAsset(string key, byte[] data)
    {
        // Save modifications
    }
    
    public IEnumerable<AssetEntry> EnumerateAssets(bool modifiedOnly)
    {
        // Iterate custom assets
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:576 and AssetManager.cs:430.

Profile Registration

Add support for new games:

[RegisterProfile(typeof(MyGameProfile))]
public class MyGameProfile : IProfile
{
    public Profile CreateProfile()
    {
        return new Profile
        {
            Name = "MyGame",
            DisplayName = "My Game (2024)",
            DataVersion = 20240101,
            Deobfuscator = "MyGameDeobfuscator",
            AssetLoader = "MyGameAssetLoader",
            Sources = new List<FileSystemSource>
            {
                new FileSystemSource { Path = "Data", SubDirs = false }
            },
            // Additional configuration...
        };
    }
}

From PluginManager.cs:433.

Plugin Example: Texture Plugin

Complete example of a texture handling plugin:

using Frosty.Core;
using Frosty.Core.Attributes;
using FrostySdk.Managers;

[assembly: PluginDisplayName("Texture Plugin")]
[assembly: PluginAuthor("Plugin Author")]
[assembly: PluginVersion("1.0.0.0")]

// Register for all Frostbite games
[assembly: RegisterAssetDefinition(
    "TextureAsset", 
    typeof(TextureAssetDefinition))]

[assembly: RegisterCustomHandler(
    CustomHandlerType.Res, 
    ResourceType.Texture, 
    typeof(TextureResourceHandler))]

namespace TexturePlugin
{
    public class TextureAssetDefinition : AssetDefinition
    {
        public override void GetSupportedFileTypes(List<string> extensions)
        {
            extensions.Add(".dds");
            extensions.Add(".png");
            extensions.Add(".tga");
        }
        
        public override async Task<bool> Export(
            EbxAssetEntry entry, 
            string path, 
            string filterType)
        {
            // Get texture resource
            TextureAsset texAsset = 
                App.AssetManager.GetEbx(entry).RootObject;
            ResAssetEntry resEntry = 
                App.AssetManager.GetResEntry(texAsset.Resource);
            Texture texture = 
                App.AssetManager.GetResAs<Texture>(resEntry);
            
            // Export based on filter type
            if (filterType == ".dds")
            {
                texture.SaveToDds(path);
            }
            else if (filterType == ".png")
            {
                texture.SaveToPng(path);
            }
            
            return true;
        }
        
        public override async Task<bool> Import(
            EbxAssetEntry entry, 
            string path, 
            ILogger logger)
        {
            // Load texture from file
            Texture newTexture = Texture.LoadFromFile(path);
            
            // Get existing texture resource
            TextureAsset texAsset = 
                App.AssetManager.GetEbx(entry).RootObject;
            ResAssetEntry resEntry = 
                App.AssetManager.GetResEntry(texAsset.Resource);
            
            // Modify resource with new data
            App.AssetManager.ModifyRes(
                resEntry.ResRid, 
                newTexture);
            
            logger.Log($"Imported texture: {entry.Name}");
            return true;
        }
    }
    
    public class TextureResourceHandler : ICustomActionHandler
    {
        public bool CanEdit(object asset)
        {
            return asset is Texture;
        }
        
        public void Edit(ResAssetEntry entry)
        {
            // Open texture viewer/editor
            TextureEditorWindow editor = 
                new TextureEditorWindow(entry);
            editor.ShowDialog();
        }
    }
}

Plugin Best Practices

Recommendations:

Use appropriate load phases - Startup for core functionality, Initialize for game-specific
Validate profile compatibility - Use PluginValidForProfile attributes
Handle errors gracefully - Catch exceptions and log to ILogger
Mark dependencies - Use RegisterThirdPartyDll for libraries
Follow naming conventions - Clear, descriptive class and attribute names
Document public APIs - Add XML comments for plugin developers
Test across games - Verify behavior with different profiles
Version appropriately - Use semantic versioning

Plugin Development Workflow

Create Project

Create a .NET Framework 4.6.1+ class library project

Reference Frosty

Add references to FrostySdk.dll and FrostyCore.dll

Implement Extensions

Add classes with appropriate attributes

Build Plugin

Compile to DLL

Deploy

Copy DLL to Plugins folder in Frosty installation

Test

Launch Frosty Editor/Mod Manager and verify plugin loads

Plugin Debugging

Attach Visual Studio debugger to Frosty process:

<!-- project.csproj -->
<PropertyGroup>
  <DebugType>full</DebugType>
  <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
  <OutputPath>C:\Path\To\Frosty\Plugins\MyPlugin\</OutputPath>
</PropertyGroup>

Set breakpoints and use Debug → Attach to Process → FrostyEditor.exe

Common Plugin Patterns

Batch Asset Processing

[RegisterMenuExtension(typeof(BatchProcessMenu))]
public class BatchProcessMenu : MenuExtension
{
    public override void MenuItemClicked(ILogger logger, object context)
    {
        foreach (var entry in App.AssetManager.EnumerateEbx("MyAssetType"))
        {
            EbxAsset asset = App.AssetManager.GetEbx(entry);
            // Process asset
            App.AssetManager.ModifyEbx(entry.Name, asset);
        }
        logger.Log("Batch processing complete");
    }
}

Custom File Format Import

public override async Task<bool> Import(
    EbxAssetEntry entry, 
    string path, 
    ILogger logger)
{
    try
    {
        // Parse custom format
        CustomFormat data = CustomFormat.Parse(path);
        
        // Convert to Frostbite format
        EbxAsset asset = ConvertToFrostbite(data);
        
        // Save to asset manager
        App.AssetManager.ModifyEbx(entry.Name, asset);
        
        return true;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        logger.LogError($"Import failed: {ex.Message}");
        return false;
    }
}

Resource Preview

public class ResourcePreviewTab : TabExtension
{
    public override FrostyTabItem CreateTabItem()
    {
        var tab = new FrostyTabItem
        {
            Header = "Preview",
            Content = new PreviewControl()
        };
        
        // Update preview when asset selection changes
        App.SelectedAssetChanged += (s, e) =>
        {
            if (e.Asset is ResAssetEntry resEntry)
            {
                UpdatePreview(resEntry);
            }
        };
        
        return tab;
    }
}

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Applications

Modding Guide

Plugin Development

Supported Games

Plugin Architecture

Plugin Lifecycle

Plugin Attributes

Core Attributes

Extension Types

Asset Definitions

Custom Handlers

Menu Extensions

Tab Extensions

Data Explorer Context Menu

Startup Actions

Execution Actions (Mod Manager)

Type System Integration

Global Type Editors

Type Overrides

Shader Registration

Custom Asset Managers

Profile Registration

Plugin Example: Texture Plugin

Plugin Best Practices

Plugin Development Workflow

Plugin Debugging

Common Plugin Patterns

Next Steps

Architecture

Asset System

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Applications

Modding Guide

Plugin Development

Supported Games

​Plugin Architecture

​Plugin Lifecycle

​Plugin Attributes

​Core Attributes

​Extension Types

​Asset Definitions

​Custom Handlers

​Menu Extensions

​Tab Extensions

​Data Explorer Context Menu

​Startup Actions

​Execution Actions (Mod Manager)

​Type System Integration

​Global Type Editors

​Type Overrides

​Shader Registration

​Custom Asset Managers

​Profile Registration

​Plugin Example: Texture Plugin

​Plugin Best Practices

​Plugin Development Workflow

​Plugin Debugging

​Common Plugin Patterns

​Next Steps

Architecture

Asset System

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Plugin Architecture

Plugin Lifecycle

Plugin Attributes

Core Attributes

Extension Types

Asset Definitions

Custom Handlers

Menu Extensions

Tab Extensions

Data Explorer Context Menu

Startup Actions

Execution Actions (Mod Manager)

Type System Integration

Global Type Editors

Type Overrides

Shader Registration

Custom Asset Managers

Profile Registration

Plugin Example: Texture Plugin

Plugin Best Practices

Plugin Development Workflow

Plugin Debugging

Common Plugin Patterns

Next Steps