Hi,
currently users have to enter some commands & parameters for the applications that should be used by gvm for the different types of hardware. It would be nicer if there was some kind of autodetection of installed software and allow newly installed software to export what they can do and how for gvm.

For this it might make sense to do something like the following:
a) For applications that are non-gnome or "defaults", like xsane for example, add some autodetection code if they're installed, etc. or do the same as in b) but ship the file by gvm.

b) For other applications scan some .desktop files. Either from the default path or from /usr/share/gnome-volume-manager/applications (for example). These would then have extended fields like

X-GVM-AudioCD-Command=/usr/bin/sound-juicer -d %d

GVM-properties would the put these into combo boxes so the user can simply choose among the installed software. Also it would be nice if a) is implemented this way, that gvm somehow checks if the software specified in the .desktop file really exists.