Plug-ins as microservices

Using a first plug-in software module with a media processing application to process a media file in a distributed service hosting environment, wherein the first plug-in software module is a copy of an original version to be hosted within the media processing application 204, comprising, in response to receiving a first message: using a first plug-in host 218 running within a first gasket 210 within a service hosting framework 202 to read a description of the first plug-in software module and to generate an instance of the first plug-in software module 222 running within the first gasket. The media essence obtained from the media file and input to the instance of the first plug-in software module via the first gasket, wherein the first gasket presents data to the first plug-in instance in a format determined by input requirements for the first plug-in instance. The media essence is then processed with the instance of the first plug-in software module and, via the first gasket, the processed media essence from the instance of the first plug-in software module is output. The first gasket then issues a second message indicating that processed media essence is available.