GAM Extension Reload

[gammadust]

GAM Extension Reload
v1.0.0

by gammadust

Arma 2: OA Extension (dll) which allows reloading of "under development" extensions without the need to restart Arma.

Description:
After Arma starts up and loading a mission the extension dlls become locked making it difficult to recompile a new extension version which is under development and test it with the host script forcing one to quit Arma and restart it, which is cumbersome and time consuming.

This extension dynamicaly (re)loads one such dll allowing fast recompiling and testing at Arma's runtime by enabling the old version under test to be overwriten with the newly compiled one.

Requirements:
- Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead (beta >= 87662)
- MinGW GCC Runtime libraries

Download: (no mirrors please)

mingw-runtime-setup.exe*
GAM Extension Reload v1.0.zip
source code

*These are a subset of MinGW GCC runtime libraries and are a one time installation requirement (other projects may rely on these in the future).
Developers alike may alternatively opt to install full MinGW toolset.

Install:
Make sure you have previously installed the MinGW GCC Runtime libraries.
Copy gam_extreload.dll to the folder of choice (same folder where you have your own .dll to test and debug).

Usage:
Basically this is a 3 step process:

1) COPY over gam_extreload.dll to the folder where your dll is being tested.
2) ADAPT the sqf script which calls your extension.
3) RENAME your dll entry point "RVExtension" to "RVExtensionD".

Check included README.txt for further details.

Thanks to:
- Bohemia Interactive for the great sandbox
- BIS forums community for its helping hand and encouragement
- Open Source and FOSS community at large

License:
GPLv3

Note: I have no degree or formal studies in Computer Science. Take this into consideration in any case. I am sure to be missing many basic programming practices.
This extension was made as a proof of concept and to help me out when testing another project of mine. If you feel inclined to improve this extension, source code is open and free! As long as you respect GPL license you are most welcome. I am also open to suggestions that i can improve myself, both on the extension usage and whatever other optimizations and corrections.

Hope this will optimize develop and workflow time as much as it does to me. Enjoy!