A method of modifying and/or extending the standard features and functions of a digital image capture and processing system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing said digital image capture and processing system having a set of standard features and functions, and a computing platform including (i) memory for storing pieces of original product code written by the original designers of said digital image capture and processing system, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications by calling and executing pieces of said original product code in a particular sequence, so as support said set of standard features and functions which characterize a standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system, wherein said one or more pieces of original product code have a set of place holders into which third-party product code can be inserted or plugged by third parties, including value-added resellers (VARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and also end-users of said digital image capture and processing system; and (b) plugging multiple pieces of third-party code into said set of place holders, so as operate to modify and/or extend the features and functions of said digital image capture and processing system, and thereby modify or extend the standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system into a custom behavior for said digital image capture and processing system; wherein said multiple pieces of third-party code includes a configuration file having conditional programming logic that controls the ordering or chaining of said multiple plug-ins in said digital image capture and processing system. (a) providing said digital image capture and processing system having a set of standard features and functions, and a computing platform including (i) memory for storing pieces of original product code written by the original designers of said digital image capture and processing system, and (ii) a microprocessor for running one or more applications by calling and executing pieces of said original product code in a particular sequence, so as support said set of standard features and functions which characterize a standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system, wherein said one or more pieces of original product code have a set of place holders into which third-party product code can be inserted or plugged by third parties, including value-added resellers (VARs), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and also end-users of said digital image capture and processing system; and (b) plugging multiple pieces of third-party code into said set of place holders, so as operate to modify and/or extend the features and functions of said digital image capture and processing system, and thereby modify or extend the standard behavior of said digital image capture and processing system into a custom behavior for said digital image capture and processing system; wherein said multiple pieces of third-party code includes a configuration file having conditional programming logic that controls the ordering or chaining of said multiple plug-ins in said digital image capture and processing system.