🚀 go-pugleaf

I had a little idea whilst bored over christmas. Wouldn't it be nice
if there was a protocol whereby applications could ask other
applications to perform filename translations for it? For example, if
!Paint were equipped with such a protocol, and so was !ChangeFSI, you
could directly drag a GIF onto !Paint, for example. With a bit of
luck, you could also just drag a GIF back out of the save as dialogue,
too.

The sort of protocol I had in mind would work as follows, and allow
multiple translations to be performed where necessary:

  Filer->!Paint
    GIF file adfs::MyDisc.Piccy has been dragged to icon 7 on the iconbar.

  !Paint broadcast:
    I want a GIF translated to a Sprite. Can anyone help?

  No answer.

  !Paint broadcast:
    I want a GIF translated to a Sprite using one intermediate step.
    Can anyone help?

  !GIFtoPBM broadcast:
    I want a PBM translated to a Sprite. Can anyone help?

  No answer.

  !GIFtoPBM gives up, and polls, so that another application can have
  a go.

  !GIFtoClear broadcast:
    I want a Clear translated to a Sprite. Can anyone help?

  !CleartoSprite->!GIFtoClear reply:
    Yes, I am ready to do that. Send me the file now.

  !GIFtoClear->!Paint reply:
    Yes, I am ready to do that. Send me the file now.

  !Paint->!GIFtoClear:
    GIF file adfs::MyDisc.Piccy has been dragged to icon 7 on the
    iconbar.

  !GIFtoClear->!CleartoSprite:
    In-store data, with name adfs::MyDisc.Piccy of type Clear has been
    dragged to icon 7 on the iconbar.

  !CleartoSprite->!Paint:
    In-store data, with name adfs::MyDisc.Piccy of type Sprite has
    been dragged to icon 7 on the iconbar.

  !Paint accepts this data as normal, and is then happy.

Are people interested in a formalisation of this protocol, and would
they implement it?

Comments welcome, either in the group, or by e-mail.

--Clive.