• channel plugins. These generate feeds for web sites that don't have one.
  
  
• application plugins. These extend the functionality of Awasu itself. The Syndic8 plugin that comes with Awasu is an example of this, letting you search Syndic8.com for new channels.

Plugins can be written in any language you choose. The only requirement is that you be able to read a Windows INI file and can write to the console. Popular choices are scripting languages such as Python or Perl but you could also use Java, C++ or C#!

If you or your users want to use plugins written in a scripting language you will, of course, need to have the appropriate scripting engine installed. Here are where you can get some of them:

• The home page for Python is www.python.org. And unless you already have something that can read Windows INI files, you will also need the WIN32 extensions.
• ActivePerl can be obtained from ActiveState.
  
• The Java Runtime Environment can be downloaded from Sun.