Open architecture firmware

[TripleKill]

Sorry if I'm repeating, but I recently got an idea of an open architecture firmware. For example, if a new sound/video format is implemented, I won't have to download the entire new firmware, I just need to download a single format decoder file and place it in a special folder (and to reload player, if needed, just like after installation in Windows). This can also be applied to DSPs, plugins, etc.

[saratoga]

This is basically how rockbox works now.  You can just update plugins and codecs without copying the entire build, except for on the rare occasions where the codec or plugin interfaces themselves are changed.  We just don't bother distributing individual codecs and plugins since the entire Rockbox install is so small.

[TripleKill]

"Rockbox install". Does that mean that I need to re-install rockbox every time I want it renewed?

[Llorean]

I have no clue what you mean by "renewed." But if you mean "update" then yes, you can't have an up to date version of Rockbox without putting an up to date version on your player...

[TripleKill]

My idea was: when a new codec is released, I download a file on my PC (not the entire build, just one little codec file). Then I copy this file on the player in a codec folder (or another special one). Every time the player is being turned on, it scans folders containing codecs, plugins, DSPs, etc, and applies all found filters to corresponding files. I think it would be much faster than to wait until whole firmware build is installed.

Thus, to get a new codec or plugin, I don't need to download a new build and install it. Like in Windows, if I want to install a game, I don't need to install the whole Windows with this game implemented, I need only a game installation.

Under the word "renewed" I mean firmware with a new feature, but not the feature depending on OS engine.

[Llorean]

As saratoga said, it's already possible to install new plugins without installing a full new build, we just don't distribute them individually because usually the core changes just as often (or rather, much more )and the whole download is pretty small.

[nls]

The way we handle metadata and codec loading makes it necessary to update the core to add new format support. Creating a way to add more codecs without updating the core would be a lot of work and probably a fair amount of added complexity for very little gain. Plugins however can be added in later, just as the above posters said (provided they don't need any changes to the API).
Why is it important to you to avoid a ~2MB download and copying a few megs of files?