The Basics
A quick overview of the basics, how the API works and interacts with flight simulators.
Architecture
The JLS Sim Panel SDK (SPSDK) relies on other code that makes it work and interact with X-Plane (or the selected flight simulator).
As it relates to X-Plane, SPSDK relies on the BenPlugin and JetBridge.
SPSDK on its own consists of two core components:
- SimPanel API
- SimPanel Devices
SimPanel API
The SimPanel API is a library that is designed to quickly create animating elements, instruments, and devices that are reusable.
SimPanel Devices
The SimPanel Devices are a set of premade, ready to use devices that were made specifically to quickly import, call a view commands and have a fully functioning device that displays data from the selected flight simulator client.
View SimPanel Devices Reference
BENS Plugin
The BENS Plugin (written in C) is an X-Plane specific plugin that ultimately controls X-Plane through the use of X-Plane's own API. This plugin's job is to send data between the flight simulator and the JetBridge.
JetBridge
The JetBridge exchanges data between the BENS Plugin and all web applications. It's job is to register needed datarefs and send them to the client that registered it. It also accepts commands to forward to the BENS Plugin which ultimately causes some change in the flight sim. For example, this could be repositioning an aircraft or pausing the simulation.