More robust plugin list in conf

A single plugin name or an absence of it, with or without comma,
is now properly handled.

Related: #18

pubs/config/spec.py

@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ pages     = string(default='')
 
 
 [plugins]
-# comma-separated list of the plugins to load
+# Comma-separated list of the plugins to load.
-active = list(default=list())
+# The only current available plugin is alias.
+active = force_list(default=list('alias'))
 
 [[alias]]
 # new subcommands can be defined, e.g.:

pubs/plugins.py

@@ -35,21 +35,22 @@ def load_plugins(conf, ui):
     PapersPlugin subclasses desired.
     """
     for name in conf['plugins']['active']:
-        modname = '%s.%s.%s.%s' % ('pubs', PLUGIN_NAMESPACE, name, name)
+        if len(name) > 0:
-        try:
+            modname = '{}.{}.{}.{}'.format('pubs', PLUGIN_NAMESPACE, name, name)
-            namespace = importlib.import_module(modname)
+            try:
-        except ImportError as exc:
+                namespace = importlib.import_module(modname)
-            # Again, this is hacky:
+            except ImportError as exc:
-            if exc.args[0].endswith(' ' + name):
+                # Again, this is hacky:
-                ui.warning('plugin {} not found'.format(name))
+                if exc.args[0].endswith(' ' + name):
+                    ui.warning('plugin {} not found'.format(name))
+                else:
+                    raise
             else:
-                raise
+                for obj in namespace.__dict__.values():
-        else:
+                    if isinstance(obj, type) and issubclass(obj, PapersPlugin) \
-            for obj in namespace.__dict__.values():
+                            and obj != PapersPlugin:
-                if isinstance(obj, type) and issubclass(obj, PapersPlugin) \
+                        _classes.append(obj)
-                        and obj != PapersPlugin:
+                        _instances[obj] = obj(conf)
-                    _classes.append(obj)
-                    _instances[obj] = obj(conf)
 
 
 def get_plugins():