[188939] All terminal connections fail if RXTX is not available

I did quite some refactoring:
- I added ITerminalConnectorInfo
- ITerminalConnectorInfo still returns a proxy to ITerminalConnector to deal with lazy initialization.
- ITerminalConnector.isInstalled, getName and getId have been removed
- ITerminalConnector now has a new initialize() method that can throw an Exception. This exception should have a localized massage that can be (and is) displayed in a dialog when something goes wrong.
- If a ITerminalConnector has initialization problems, it is not shown in the terminal  settings dialog for that connection

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.serial/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/serial/SerialConnector.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
 
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.CoreException;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Status;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ISettingsPage;
@@ -40,34 +41,20 @@ public class SerialConnector implements ITerminalConnector {
     private CommPortIdentifier fSerialPortIdentifier;
 	private SerialPortHandler fTerminalSerialPortHandler;
 	private boolean fIsPortInUse;
-	private final SerialSettings fSettings;
+	private SerialSettings fSettings;
 	public SerialConnector() {
-		SerialSettings settins=null;
-		try {
-			settins=new SerialSettings();			
-		} catch (NoClassDefFoundError e) {
-			// tell the user how to install the library
-			Activator.getDefault().getLog().log(new Status(IStatus.WARNING,Activator.PLUGIN_ID,0, SerialMessages.ERROR_LIBRARY_NOT_INSTALLED,e));
-		}
-		fSettings=settins;
-	}
-	public String getId() {
-		return null;
-	}
-	public String getName() {
-		return null;
-	}
-	public boolean isInstalled() {
-		// check if serial is installed
-		try {
-			return SerialPort.class!=null;
-		} catch (Throwable e) {
-			return false;
-		}
 	}
 	public SerialConnector(SerialSettings settings) {
 		fSettings=settings;
 	}
+	public void initialize() throws Exception {
+		try {
+			fSettings=new SerialSettings();			
+		} catch (NoClassDefFoundError e) {
+			// tell the user how to install the library
+			throw new CoreException(new Status(IStatus.WARNING,Activator.PLUGIN_ID,0, SerialMessages.ERROR_LIBRARY_NOT_INSTALLED,e));
+		}
+	}
 	public void connect(ITerminalControl control) {
 		Logger.log("entered."); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		fControl=control;
@@ -203,5 +190,4 @@ public class SerialConnector implements ITerminalConnector {
 	public void save(ISettingsStore store) {
 		fSettings.save(store);
 	}
-	
 }

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.ssh/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/ssh/SshConnector.java

@@ -36,24 +36,12 @@ public class SshConnector implements ITerminalConnector {
 	private int fHeight;
 	public SshConnector() {
 		this(new SshSettings());
-		try {
-			fJsch=new JSch();
-		} catch(NoClassDefFoundError e) {
-			// ignore
-			e.printStackTrace();
-		}
 	}
 	public SshConnector(SshSettings settings) {
 		fSettings=settings;
 	}
-	public String getId() {
+	public void initialize() throws Exception {
-		return null;
+		fJsch=new JSch();
-	}
-	public String getName() {
-		return null;
-	}
-	public boolean isInstalled() {
-		return fJsch!=null;
 	}
 	public void connect(ITerminalControl control) {
 		Logger.log("entered."); //$NON-NLS-1$

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/view/TerminalSettingsDlg.java

@@ -16,9 +16,16 @@
  *******************************************************************************/
 package org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.view;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.List;
+
 import org.eclipse.jface.dialogs.Dialog;
+import org.eclipse.jface.dialogs.IDialogConstants;
 import org.eclipse.jface.dialogs.IDialogSettings;
 import org.eclipse.jface.dialogs.MessageDialog;
+import org.eclipse.osgi.util.NLS;
 import org.eclipse.swt.SWT;
 import org.eclipse.swt.events.SelectionAdapter;
 import org.eclipse.swt.events.SelectionEvent;
@@ -33,11 +40,11 @@ import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Group;
 import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Label;
 import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Shell;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ISettingsPage;
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 
 class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 	private Combo fCtlConnTypeCombo;
-	private final ITerminalConnector[] fConnectors;
+	private final ITerminalConnectorInfo[] fConnectors;
 	private final ISettingsPage[] fPages;
 	/**
 	 * Maps the fConnectors index to the fPages index
@@ -48,9 +55,9 @@ class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 	private PageBook fPageBook;
 	private IDialogSettings fDialogSettings;
 
-	public TerminalSettingsDlg(Shell shell, ITerminalConnector[] connectors, ITerminalConnector connector) {
+	public TerminalSettingsDlg(Shell shell, ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors, ITerminalConnectorInfo connector) {
 		super(shell);
-		fConnectors=connectors;
+		fConnectors=getValidConnectors(connectors);
 		fPages=new ISettingsPage[fConnectors.length];
 		fPageIndex=new int[fConnectors.length];
 		fSelectedConnector=-1;
@@ -59,28 +66,47 @@ class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 				fSelectedConnector=i;
 		}
 	}
+	/**
+	 * @param connectors
+	 * @return connectors excluding connectors with errors
+	 */
+	private ITerminalConnectorInfo[] getValidConnectors(ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors) {
+		List list=new ArrayList(Arrays.asList(connectors));
+		for (Iterator iterator = list.iterator(); iterator.hasNext();) {
+			ITerminalConnectorInfo info = (ITerminalConnectorInfo) iterator.next();
+			if(info.isInitialized() && info.getInitializationErrorMessage()!=null)
+				iterator.remove();
+		}
+		connectors=(ITerminalConnectorInfo[]) list.toArray(new ITerminalConnectorInfo[list.size()]);
+		return connectors;
+	}
 	ISettingsPage getPage(int i) {
 		if(fPages[i]==null) {
-			try {
+			if(fConnectors[i].getInitializationErrorMessage()!=null) {
-				fPages[i]=fConnectors[i].makeSettingsPage();
-				// TODO: what happens if an error occurs while
-				// the control is partly created?
-				fPages[i].createControl(fPageBook);
-			} catch (final Exception e) {
 				// create a error message
+				final ITerminalConnectorInfo conn=fConnectors[i];
 				fPages[i]=new ISettingsPage(){
 					public void createControl(Composite parent) {
 						Label l=new Label(parent,SWT.WRAP);
-						l.setText("Error"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+						String error=NLS.bind(ViewMessages.CONNECTOR_NOT_AVAILABLE,conn.getName());
+						l.setText(error); 
 						l.setForeground(l.getDisplay().getSystemColor(SWT.COLOR_RED));
-						MessageDialog.openError(getShell(), "Initialization Problems!", e.getLocalizedMessage()); //$NON-NLS-1$
+						MessageDialog.openError(getShell(), 
+								error,
+								NLS.bind(ViewMessages.CANNOT_INITIALIZE,
+										conn.getName(),
+										conn.getInitializationErrorMessage())); 
 					}
 					public void loadSettings() {}
 					public void saveSettings() {}
 					public boolean validateSettings() {return false;}
 				};
-				fPages[i].createControl(fPageBook);
+			} else {
+				fPages[i]=fConnectors[i].getConnector().makeSettingsPage();
 			}
+			// TODO: what happens if an error occurs while
+			// the control is partly created?
+			fPages[i].createControl(fPageBook);
 			fPageIndex[i]=fNPages++;
 			resize();
 		}
@@ -136,6 +162,11 @@ class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 
 		return ctlComposite;
 	}
+	public void create() {
+		super.create();
+		// initialize the OK button after creating the all dialog elements
+		updateOKButton();
+	}
 	private void initFields() {
 		// Load controls
 		for (int i = 0; i < fConnectors.length; i++) {
@@ -189,7 +220,7 @@ class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 			}
 		});
 	}
-	public ITerminalConnector getConnector() {
+	public ITerminalConnectorInfo getConnector() {
 		if(fSelectedConnector>=0)
 			return fConnectors[fSelectedConnector];
 		return null;
@@ -199,6 +230,21 @@ class TerminalSettingsDlg extends Dialog {
 		getPage(index);
 		Control[] pages=fPageBook.getChildren();
 		fPageBook.showPage(pages[fPageIndex[fSelectedConnector]]);
+		updateOKButton();
+
+	}
+	/**
+	 * enables the OK button if the user can create a connection
+	 */
+	private void updateOKButton() {
+		// TODO: allow contributions to enable the OK button
+		// enable the OK button if we have a valid connection selected
+		if(getButton(IDialogConstants.OK_ID)!=null) {
+			boolean enable=false;
+			if(getConnector()!=null)
+				enable=getConnector().getInitializationErrorMessage()==null;
+			getButton(IDialogConstants.OK_ID).setEnabled(enable);
+		}
 	}
 	protected IDialogSettings getDialogBoundsSettings() {
 		IDialogSettings ds=TerminalViewPlugin.getDefault().getDialogSettings();

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/view/TerminalView.java

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.ITerminalListener;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.ITerminalViewControl;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.TerminalViewControlFactory;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ISettingsStore;
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.Logger;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.TerminalConnectorExtension;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.TerminalState;
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 	public void onTerminalConnect() {
 		if (isConnected())
 			return;
-		if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnection()==null)
+		if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo()==null)
 			setConnector(showSettingsDialog());
 		fCtlTerminal.connectTerminal();
 	}
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 	}
 
 	public void onTerminalSettings() {
-		ITerminalConnector c=showSettingsDialog();
+		ITerminalConnectorInfo c=showSettingsDialog();
 		if(c!=null) {
 			setConnector(c);
 
@@ -203,11 +203,11 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 		}
 	}
 
-	private ITerminalConnector showSettingsDialog() {
+	private ITerminalConnectorInfo showSettingsDialog() {
 		// When the settings dialog is opened, load the Terminal settings from the
 		// persistent settings.
 
-		TerminalSettingsDlg dlgTerminalSettings = new TerminalSettingsDlg(getViewSite().getShell(),fCtlTerminal.getConnectors(),fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnection());
+		TerminalSettingsDlg dlgTerminalSettings = new TerminalSettingsDlg(getViewSite().getShell(),fCtlTerminal.getConnectors(),fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo());
 
 		Logger.log("opening Settings dialog."); //$NON-NLS-1$
 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 		return dlgTerminalSettings.getConnector();
 	}
 
-	private void setConnector(ITerminalConnector connector) {
+	private void setConnector(ITerminalConnectorInfo connector) {
 		fCtlTerminal.setConnector(connector);
 	}
 
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 			// display in the view's content description line.  This is used by class
 			// TerminalText when it processes an ANSI OSC escape sequence that commands
 			// the terminal to display text in its title bar.
-		} else if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnection()==null){
+		} else if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo()==null){
 			strTitle=ViewMessages.NO_CONNECTION_SELECTED;
 		} else {
 			// When parameter 'data' is null, we construct a descriptive string to
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 			//In order to make the logic of assembling, and the separators, better adapt to foreign languages
 			if(summary.length()>0)
 				summary=summary+" - ";  //$NON-NLS-1$
-			String name=fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnection().getName();
+			String name=fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo().getName();
 			if(name.length()>0) {
 				name+=": "; //$NON-NLS-1$
 			}
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 		// TODO: use another mechanism than "?" for the magic non initialized state
 		// see TerminalConnectorProxy.getSettingsSummary
 		String summary="?"; //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnection()!=null)
+		if(fCtlTerminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo()!=null)
 			summary=fCtlTerminal.getSettingsSummary();
 		if("?".equals(summary)) { //$NON-NLS-1$
 			summary=fStore.get(STORE_SETTING_SUMMARY, ""); //$NON-NLS-1$
@@ -411,21 +411,21 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 	 * This method creates the top-level control for the Terminal view.
 	 */
 	protected void setupControls(Composite wndParent) {
-		ITerminalConnector[] connectors=TerminalConnectorExtension.getTerminalConnectors();
+		ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors=TerminalConnectorExtension.getTerminalConnectors();
 		fCtlTerminal = TerminalViewControlFactory.makeControl(this, wndParent, connectors);
 		String connectionType=fStore.get(STORE_CONNECTION_TYPE);
 		for (int i = 0; i < connectors.length; i++) {
-			connectors[i].load(getStore(connectors[i]));
+			connectors[i].getConnector().load(getStore(connectors[i]));
 			if(connectors[i].getId().equals(connectionType))
 				fCtlTerminal.setConnector(connectors[i]);
 		}
 		setCommandInputField("true".equals(fStore.get(STORE_HAS_COMMAND_INPUT_FIELD))); //$NON-NLS-1$
 	}
 	
-	private void saveSettings(ITerminalConnector connector) {
+	private void saveSettings(ITerminalConnectorInfo connector) {
-		ITerminalConnector[] connectors=fCtlTerminal.getConnectors();
+		ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors=fCtlTerminal.getConnectors();
 		for (int i = 0; i < connectors.length; i++) {
-			connectors[i].save(getStore(connectors[i]));
+			connectors[i].getConnector().save(getStore(connectors[i]));
 		}
 		if(connector!=null) {
 			fStore.put(STORE_CONNECTION_TYPE,connector.getId());
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ public class TerminalView extends ViewPart implements ITerminalView, ITerminalLi
 		fStore.put(STORE_SETTING_SUMMARY, getSettingsSummary());
 		fStore.saveState(memento);
 	}
-	private ISettingsStore getStore(ITerminalConnector connector) {
+	private ISettingsStore getStore(ITerminalConnectorInfo connector) {
 		return new SettingStorePrefixDecorator(fStore,connector.getId()+"."); //$NON-NLS-1$
 	}
 

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/view/ViewMessages.java

@@ -38,5 +38,8 @@ public class ViewMessages extends NLS {
 	public static String STATE_CONNECTING;
 	public static String STATE_OPENED;
 	public static String STATE_CLOSED;
+	
+	public static String CANNOT_INITIALIZE;
+	public static String CONNECTOR_NOT_AVAILABLE;
 
 }

org.eclipse.tm.terminal.view/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/view/ViewMessages.properties

@@ -30,3 +30,6 @@ STATE_CONNECTED = CONNECTED
 STATE_CONNECTING = CONNECTING...
 STATE_OPENED = OPENED
 STATE_CLOSED = CLOSED
+
+CANNOT_INITIALIZE = Cannot initialize {0}:\n{1}
+CONNECTOR_NOT_AVAILABLE = Connector {0} not available!

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/ITerminalViewControl.java

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ package org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control;
 import org.eclipse.swt.custom.StyledText;
 import org.eclipse.swt.dnd.Clipboard;
 import org.eclipse.swt.graphics.Font;
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.TerminalState;
 
 /**
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ public interface ITerminalViewControl {
     void disconnectTerminal();
     void disposeTerminal();
     String getSettingsSummary();
-    ITerminalConnector[] getConnectors();
+    ITerminalConnectorInfo[] getConnectors();
     void setFocus();
-    ITerminalConnector getTerminalConnection();
+    ITerminalConnectorInfo getTerminalConnectorInfo();
-    void setConnector(ITerminalConnector connector);
+    void setConnector(ITerminalConnectorInfo connector);
     void connectTerminal();
     /**
      * @param write a single character to terminal

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/TerminalViewControlFactory.java

@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ package org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control;
 
 import org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Composite;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.impl.TerminalControl;
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 
 public class TerminalViewControlFactory {
-	public static ITerminalViewControl makeControl(ITerminalListener target, Composite wndParent, ITerminalConnector[] connectors) {
+	public static ITerminalViewControl makeControl(ITerminalListener target, Composite wndParent, ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors) {
 		return new TerminalControl(target, wndParent, connectors);
 	}
 }

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/impl/ITerminalControlForText.java

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ package org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.impl;
 
 import java.io.OutputStream;
 
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.TerminalState;
 
 /**
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public interface ITerminalControlForText {
 	void setState(TerminalState state);
 	void setTerminalTitle(String title);
 	
-	ITerminalConnector getTerminalConnection();
+	ITerminalConnectorInfo getTerminalConnectorInfo();
 
 	void disconnectTerminal();
 

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/impl/TerminalControl.java

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.ICommandInputField;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.ITerminalListener;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.ITerminalViewControl;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnector;
+import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalConnectorInfo;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalControl;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.Logger;
 import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.TerminalState;
@@ -88,14 +89,14 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
     private String                    fMsg = ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
     private VerifyKeyListener         fVerifyKeyListener;
     private FocusListener             fFocusListener;
-    private ITerminalConnector		  fConnector;
+    private ITerminalConnectorInfo		  fConnectorInfo;
-    private final ITerminalConnector[]      fConnectors;
+    private final ITerminalConnectorInfo[]      fConnectors;
 
 	private ICommandInputField fCommandInputField;
 
 	private volatile TerminalState fState;
 
-	public TerminalControl(ITerminalListener target, Composite wndParent, ITerminalConnector[] connectors) {
+	public TerminalControl(ITerminalListener target, Composite wndParent, ITerminalConnectorInfo[] connectors) {
 		fConnectors=connectors;
 		fTerminalListener=target;
 		setTerminalText(new TerminalText(this));
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 		setupTerminal(wndParent);
 	}
 
-	public ITerminalConnector[] getConnectors() {
+	public ITerminalConnectorInfo[] getConnectors() {
 		return fConnectors;
 	}
 
@@ -237,19 +238,28 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 
 	public void connectTerminal() {
 		Logger.log("entered."); //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if(fConnector==null)
+		if(getTerminalConnector()==null)
 			return;
 		fTerminalText.resetState();
-		try {
+		if(fConnectorInfo.getInitializationErrorMessage()!=null) {
-			fConnector.connect(this);
+			showErrorMessage(NLS.bind(
-		} catch(RuntimeException e) {
+					TerminalMessages.CannotConnectTo,
-			showErrorMessage(NLS.bind(TerminalMessages.CannotConnectTo,new Object[]{fConnector.getName(),e.getMessage()}));
+					fConnectorInfo.getName(),
+					fConnectorInfo.getInitializationErrorMessage()));
+			// we cannot connect because the connector was not initialized
 			return;
 		}
+		getTerminalConnector().connect(this);
 		// clean the error message
 		setMsg(""); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		waitForConnect();
 	}
+
+	private ITerminalConnector getTerminalConnector() {
+		if(fConnectorInfo==null)
+			return null;
+		return fConnectorInfo.getConnector();
+	}
 	/* (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api.ITerminalControl#disconnectTerminal()
 	 */
@@ -259,9 +269,8 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 		if (getState()==TerminalState.CLOSED) {
 			return;
 		}
-		if(fConnector!=null) {
+		if(getTerminalConnector()!=null) {
-			fConnector.disconnect();
+			getTerminalConnector().disconnect();
-//			fConnector=null;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -482,8 +491,8 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 
 
 	public OutputStream getOutputStream() {
-		if(fConnector!=null)
+		if(getTerminalConnector()!=null)
-			return fConnector.getOutputStream();
+			return getTerminalConnector().getOutputStream();
 		return null;
 	}
 
@@ -523,10 +532,9 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 
 	/**
 	 */
-	public ITerminalConnector getTerminalConnection() {
+	public ITerminalConnectorInfo getTerminalConnectorInfo() {
-		return fConnector;
+		return fConnectorInfo;
 	}
-
 	protected class TerminalModifyListener implements ModifyListener {
 		public void modifyText(ModifyEvent e) {
 			if (e.getSource() instanceof StyledText) {
@@ -752,9 +760,9 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 			// locally, send a LF after sending a CR.
 			// ISSUE: Is this absolutely required?
 
-			if (character == '\r' && getTerminalConnection() != null
+			if (character == '\r' && getTerminalConnectorInfo() != null
 					&& isConnected()
-					&& getTerminalConnection().isLocalEcho()) {
+					&& getTerminalConnectorInfo().getConnector().isLocalEcho()) {
 				sendChar('\n', false);
 			}
 
@@ -773,8 +781,8 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 			//
 			// o The character is the DELETE character.
 
-			if (getTerminalConnection() == null
+			if (getTerminalConnectorInfo() == null
-					|| getTerminalConnection().isLocalEcho() == false || altKeyPressed
+					|| getTerminalConnectorInfo().getConnector().isLocalEcho() == false || altKeyPressed
 					|| (character >= '\u0001' && character < '\t')
 					|| (character > '\t' && character < '\r')
 					|| (character > '\r' && character <= '\u001f')
@@ -815,13 +823,13 @@ public class TerminalControl implements ITerminalControlForText, ITerminalContro
 	}
 
 	public String getSettingsSummary() {
-		if(fConnector!=null)
+		if(getTerminalConnector()!=null)
-			return fConnector.getSettingsSummary();
+			return getTerminalConnector().getSettingsSummary();
 		return ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
 	}
 
-	public void setConnector(ITerminalConnector connector) {
+	public void setConnector(ITerminalConnectorInfo connector) {
-		fConnector=connector;
+		fConnectorInfo=connector;
 		
 	}
 	public ICommandInputField getCommandInputField() {

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/impl/TerminalMessages.properties

@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 TerminalError = Terminal Error
 SocketError = Socket Error
 IOError = IO Error
-CannotConnectTo = Cannot connect to {1}:\n{2}
+CannotConnectTo = Cannot initialize {0}:\n{1}

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/control/impl/TerminalText.java

@@ -1744,13 +1744,19 @@ public class TerminalText implements ControlListener {
 		// there is nothing we can do to tell the remote host about the size of the
 		// terminal.
 
-		ITerminalConnector telnetConnection = terminal.getTerminalConnection();
+		ITerminalConnector telnetConnection = getConnector();
 		// TODO MSA: send only if dimensions have really changed!
 		if (telnetConnection != null && widthInColumns != 0 && heightInLines != 0) {
 			telnetConnection.setTerminalSize(widthInColumns, heightInLines);
 		}
 	}
 
+	private ITerminalConnector getConnector() {
+		if(terminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo()!=null)
+			return terminal.getTerminalConnectorInfo().getConnector();
+		return null;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * This method computes the the pixel width of a character in the current
 	 * font. The Font object representing the font in the Terminal view doesn't

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/provisional/api/ITerminalConnector.java

@@ -28,27 +28,12 @@ import java.io.OutputStream;
  */
 public interface ITerminalConnector {
 	/**
-	 * @return an ID of this connector. The id from the plugin.xml.
+	 * Initializes the Connector. Some connector depend on external libraries that
-	 * <p>Note: return <code>null</code> because the framework takes 
+	 * might not be installed. 
-	 * care to get the value from the plugin.xml
+	 * @throws Exception The exception should have a useful 
+	 * {@link Exception#getLocalizedMessage()} that explains the problem to the user.
 	 */
-	// TODO: eliminate the need of implementing this NOOP method for extensions
+	void initialize() throws Exception;
-	String getId();
-
-	/**
-	 * @return <code>null</code> the name (as specified in the plugin.xml)
-	 * <p>Note: return <code>null</code> because the framework takes 
-	 * care to get the value from the plugin.xml
-	 */
-	// TODO: eliminate the need of implementing this NOOP method for extensions
-	String getName();
-
-	/**
-	 * @return true if the contribution is functioning (e.g. all external libraries are
-	 * installed). This was added for the serial support, because it requires the java comm 
-	 * library, which is installed in the lib/ext directory of the
-	 */
-	boolean isInstalled();
 
 	/**
 	 * Connect using the current state of the settings.

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/provisional/api/ITerminalConnectorInfo.java

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * Copyright (c) 2006, 2007 Wind River Systems, Inc. and others.
+ * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials 
+ * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0 
+ * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at 
+ * http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html 
+ * 
+ * Contributors: 
+ * Michael Scharf (Wind River) - initial API and implementation
+ *******************************************************************************/
+package org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.provisional.api;
+
+/**
+ * This class is a handle to a {@link ITerminalConnector connector} that comes from an
+ * extension. It maintains a proxy to the connector to allow lazy initialization of the
+ * real {@link ITerminalConnector connector} that comes from an extension.
+ *
+ */
+public interface ITerminalConnectorInfo {
+	/**
+	 * @return an ID of this connector. The id from the plugin.xml.
+	 * <p>Note: return <code>null</code> because the framework takes 
+	 * care to get the value from the plugin.xml
+	 */
+	String getId();
+
+	/**
+	 * @return <code>null</code> the name (as specified in the plugin.xml)
+	 * <p>Note: return <code>null</code> because the framework takes 
+	 * care to get the value from the plugin.xml
+	 */
+	String getName();
+
+	/**
+	 * @return true if the ITerminalConnector has been initialized.
+	 * If there was an initialization error, {@link #getInitializationErrorMessage()}
+	 * returns the error message.
+	 */
+	boolean isInitialized();
+	
+	/**
+	 * This method initializes the connector if it is not initialized!
+	 * If the connector was initialized successfully, <code>null</code> is
+	 * returned. Otherwise an error message describing the problem is returned.
+	 * @return <code>null</code> or a localized error message.
+	 */
+	String getInitializationErrorMessage();
+	
+	/**
+	 * Returns a proxy to the connector that is lazily initialized.
+	 * The following methods can be called without initializing
+	 * the contributed class: 
+	 * {@link ITerminalConnector#getSettingsSummary()}, {@link ITerminalConnector#load(ISettingsStore)},
+	 * {@link ITerminalConnector#save(ISettingsStore)}, {@link ITerminalConnector#setTerminalSize(int, int)}
+	 * @return a proxy of the real connector. Some calls initialize the the connection.
+	 */
+	ITerminalConnector getConnector();
+}

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/provisional/api/TerminalConnectorExtension.java

@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IConfigurationElement;
-import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.RegistryFactory;
-import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Status;
-import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.impl.TerminalPlugin;
 
 /**
  * A factory to get {@link ITerminalConnector} instances.
@@ -34,6 +31,28 @@ import org.eclipse.tm.internal.terminal.control.impl.TerminalPlugin;
  * </p>
  */
 public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
+	static private class TerminalConnectorInfo implements ITerminalConnectorInfo {
+		TerminalConnectorProxy fProxy;
+		TerminalConnectorInfo(TerminalConnectorProxy proxy) {
+			fProxy=proxy;
+		}
+		public ITerminalConnector getConnector() {
+			return fProxy;
+		}
+		public String getId() {
+			return fProxy.getId();
+		}
+		public String getName() {
+			return fProxy.getName();
+		}
+		public String getInitializationErrorMessage() {
+			return fProxy.getLocalizedErrorMessage();
+		}
+		public boolean isInitialized() {
+			return fProxy.isInitialized();
+		}
+
+	}
 	/**
 	 * A placeholder for the ITerminalConnector. It gets initialized when
 	 * the real connector is needed. 
@@ -67,6 +86,12 @@ public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
 		TerminalConnectorProxy(IConfigurationElement config) {
 			fConfig=config;
 		}
+		public String getLocalizedErrorMessage() {
+			getConnector();
+			if(fException!=null)
+				return fException.getLocalizedMessage();
+			return null;
+		}
 		public String getId() {
 			String id = fConfig.getAttribute("id"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 			if(id==null || id.length()==0)
@@ -84,17 +109,15 @@ public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
 			if(!isInitialized()) {
 				try {
 					fConnector=createConnector(fConfig);
-					if(fConnector==null || !fConnector.isInstalled())
+					fConnector.initialize();
-						// TODO MSA externalize
-						throw new RuntimeException(getName()+ " is not properly installed!"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 				} catch (Exception e) {
 					fException=e;
+					// that's the place where we log the exception
+					Logger.logException(e);
 				}
 				if(fConnector!=null && fStore!=null)
 					fConnector.load(fStore);
 			}
-			if(fException!=null)
-				throw new RuntimeException(fException);
 			return fConnector;
 		}
 		private boolean isInitialized() {
@@ -116,11 +139,6 @@ public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
 				// TODO: see TerminalView.getSettingsSummary
 				return "?"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 		}
-		public boolean isInstalled() {
-			if(isInitialized() && fConnector==null)
-				return false;
-			return getConnector().isInstalled();
-		}
 		public boolean isLocalEcho() {
 			return getConnector().isLocalEcho();
 		}
@@ -137,7 +155,7 @@ public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
 		public void save(ISettingsStore store) {
 			// no need to save the settings: it cannot have changed
 			// because we are not initialized....
-			if(!isInstalled())
+			if(fConnector!=null)
 				getConnector().save(store);
 		}
 		public void setTerminalSize(int newWidth, int newHeight) {
@@ -148,37 +166,26 @@ public class TerminalConnectorExtension {
 				fConnector.setTerminalSize(newWidth, newHeight);
 			}
 		}
+		public void initialize() throws Exception {	
+			throw new IllegalStateException("Connector already initialized!"); //$NON-NLS-1$
+		}
 	}
 	/**
 	 * @return null or a new connector created from the extension
 	 */
 	static private ITerminalConnector createConnector(IConfigurationElement config) throws Exception {
-		try {
+		return (ITerminalConnector)config.createExecutableExtension("class"); //$NON-NLS-1$
-			Object obj=config.createExecutableExtension("class"); //$NON-NLS-1$
-			if(obj instanceof ITerminalConnector) {
-				ITerminalConnector conn=(ITerminalConnector) obj;
-				if(conn.isInstalled())
-					return conn;
-			}
-		} catch (Exception e) {
-			log(e);
-			throw e;
-		}
-		return null;
 	}
 	/**
-	 * @return a new list of ITerminalConnectors. 
+	 * @return a new list of ITerminalConnectorInfo. 
 	 */
-	public static ITerminalConnector[] getTerminalConnectors() {
+	public static ITerminalConnectorInfo[] getTerminalConnectors() {
 		IConfigurationElement[] config=RegistryFactory.getRegistry().getConfigurationElementsFor("org.eclipse.tm.terminal.terminalConnector"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		List result=new ArrayList();
 		for (int i = 0; i < config.length; i++) {
-			result.add(new TerminalConnectorProxy(config[i]));
+			result.add(new TerminalConnectorInfo(new TerminalConnectorProxy(config[i])));
 		}
-		return (ITerminalConnector[]) result.toArray(new ITerminalConnector[result.size()]);
+		return (ITerminalConnectorInfo[]) result.toArray(new ITerminalConnectorInfo[result.size()]);
 	}
 
-	private static void log(Throwable e) {
-		TerminalPlugin.getDefault().getLog().log(new Status(IStatus.ERROR, TerminalPlugin.PLUGIN_ID, IStatus.OK, e.getMessage(), e));
-	}
 }

org.eclipse.tm.terminal/src/org/eclipse/tm/internal/terminal/telnet/TelnetConnector.java

@@ -41,15 +41,11 @@ public class TelnetConnector implements ITerminalConnector {
 	public TelnetConnector() {
 		this(new TelnetSettings());
 	}
-	public String getId() {
-		return null;
-	}
-	public String getName() {
-		return null;
-	}
 	public TelnetConnector(TelnetSettings settings) {
 		fSettings=settings;
 	}
+	public void initialize() throws Exception {
+	}
 	public void connect(ITerminalControl control) {
 		Logger.log("entered."); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		fControl=control;
@@ -165,7 +161,4 @@ public class TelnetConnector implements ITerminalConnector {
 	public void save(ISettingsStore store) {
 		fSettings.save(store);
 	}
-	public boolean isInstalled() {
-		return true;
-	}
 }