DLL-powered-gauges vrs XML-powered-gauges

[Ronald]

With the recent news that P3D and FSW are "going 64-bits" and the changes in their support of (64-bits) add-ons I was wondering:
"What are the technical and internal differences between DLL-powered gauges vrs XML-powered-gauges"

What i've learned myself so far is that:
A - DLL-powered-gauges:
- are simply a standard Windows Dynamic Link Libraries.
- can be written either in Win32 or Win64-assembler / VB-code / VC++ code /
- "talks" to FSX through using "token_variables"
- is and acts like every other Windows executable code.
- can access everything <data-related> inside the Windows operating system.
- can be linked into almost any other Windows executable / source-code.
- can be dynamically loaded/injected into any Windows executable address-space.

B - XML-powered gauges:
- are written in a "specialized flavor" of W3C's XML standard language (for either FS9, FSX and/or P3D):
- "talks" to FSX through a series of interface_variables and/or status_variables like:
--> A_vars (inside sim1.dll)
--> P_vars (inside panels.dll)
--> K_events (inside controls.dll)
- can not access (executable / operating-system) dataoutside the XML-2FS(9,x) interface.

Sources used:
- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526948.aspx - esp sdk
- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526958.aspx - C++ gauges
- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526953.aspx - XML gauges
- http://www.fs2x.com/Tutorials.htm


Question: Are their any more design / technical / coding differences between DLL - and XML powered gauges?

 

[JB3DG]

Dlls can also make use of SimConnect for one. They also allow one to render at the sim frame rate instead of 18Hz

 

[WebSimConnect]

plus C_vars that allow to link your DLL with XML (cabin comfort example)

 

[rpmc]

Here's one thread from the past - an interesting and spirited debate of C++ and XML gauge work. It's largely philosophical, but there's also mention of technical/internal differences. Bob