Two plug-ins directories

[Storer]

Every time a new beta version comes out, I'm faced with the need to move all my plug-ins from the old version to the new version. You can't do this mindlessly, as there may be changes in the distributed plug-ins, and there is always a slight chance of a new distributed plug-in having the same name as one you have developed yourself. What I'd like is two layers of plug-ins: My-plug-ins, which would always be searched first, and which I could place anywhere on any drive, and then the normal Audacity/plug-ins as we have now. Since the local directory would always be searched first, if you have a name collision with a new, distributed plug-in, it won't do any damage.

As it is now, I seem to have lost one of my small plug-ins in the shuffling from one beta version to the next. It's not a big deal, but during the beta development process, it would certainly make things easier. Once a new stable version is available, two plug-ins directories won't be as important, but I imagine I (and probably many others on this forum) will always be trying beta versions, no matter what the stable version number is.

Just an idea.
Dave

[steve]

I imagine I (and probably many others on this forum) will always be trying beta versions,

That certainly applies to me.

The way I manage the "problem":

1) Give plug-ins a prefix to their file name (for example, use your initials (ds-mixer.ny, ds-gong.ny, ds-basssynth.ny ...) This substantially reduces the chance of hitting the same name as a standard Audacity plug-in.

2) Keep a backup copy of my plug-ins

3) Set up new alpha/beta versions in a different directory from my "production" version of Audacity. This is really easy if you're on Windows - use the ZIP version of Audacity, extract it anywhere, create a "Portable Settings" folder, and create a Desktop link. (portable settings: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Portable_Audacity )
If you're on Linux, then you can compile with a program suffix and optionally use a "Portable Settings" folder.

4) Set the new Audacity plug-ins to "read only" (if they are not already) and you should receive at least a prompt before they are overwritten when you copy your plug-ins over.