def _analyze_resources_directory(self, directory_path, verified_resource_paths_list):
        # in case the directory path does not exists
        if not os.path.exists(directory_path):
            # returns immediately
            return

        # retrieves the resources manager plugin
        resources_manager_plugin = self.plugin.resources_manager_plugin

        # retrieves the file path resources list map from the resources manager
        file_path_resources_list_map = resources_manager_plugin.get_file_path_resources_list_map()

        # retrieves the resources path directory contents
        resources_path_directory_contents = os.listdir(directory_path)

        # iterates over the resources path directory contents
        # to load them in the resources manager
        for resources_path_item in resources_path_directory_contents:
            # creates the resources full path item
            resources_full_path_item = os.path.join(directory_path, resources_path_item)

            # in case the current the resource path item refers a real
            # resource name (resource found in path)
            if resources_manager_plugin.is_resource_name(resources_path_item):
                # normalizes the resources full path (for file verification)
                resources_full_path_item_normalized = colony.normalize_path(resources_full_path_item)

                # adds the resource path to the verified resource paths list
                # because the resource has been verified as existent
                verified_resource_paths_list.append(resources_full_path_item_normalized)

                # retrieves the current modified time from the resource and the
                # modified time currently stored in the internal structure
                # for later comparison
                current_modified_time = os.path.getmtime(resources_full_path_item_normalized)
                modified_time = self.file_path_modified_time_map.get(resources_full_path_item_normalized, None)

                # in case the modified time hasn't changed
                # the file is considered to be the same
                if current_modified_time == modified_time:
                    # continues the loop (nothing changed)
                    continue

                # in case there's no current modified time defined (the file
                # did not already existed)
                if modified_time == None:
                    # prints an info message (about the loading)
                    self.plugin.info("Loading resource file '%s' in resources manager" % resources_full_path_item_normalized)
                # otherwise the file already existed but the modified time has
                # changed (reload case)
                else:
                    # prints an info message (about the reloading)
                    self.plugin.info("Reloading resource file '%s' in resources manager" % resources_full_path_item_normalized)

                    # retrieves the resources list for the resources path and then uses it to
                    # unregister the resources in the resources manager
                    resources_list = file_path_resources_list_map[resources_full_path_item_normalized]
                    resources_manager_plugin.unregister_resources(resources_list, resources_full_path_item, directory_path)

                # parses the resources description file
                resources_manager_plugin.parse_file(resources_full_path_item, directory_path)

                # sets the "new" modified time in the file path modified
                # time map (updates the modified time)
                self.file_path_modified_time_map[resources_full_path_item_normalized] = current_modified_time
            # otherwise in case the resources full path is a directory
            # path a descent must be done
            elif os.path.isdir(resources_full_path_item):
                # analyzes the resources for the directory
                self._analyze_resources_directory(resources_full_path_item, verified_resource_paths_list)
    def _process_directory(self, request, complete_path):
        """
        Processes a directory request for the given complete
        path and request.

        :type request: HttpRequest
        :param request: The http request to be handled.
        :type complete_path: String
        :param complete_path: The complete path to the directory.
        """

        # retrieves the requested resource base path
        resource_base_path = request.get_resource_base_path_decoded()

        # in case the resource base path does not end with a slash
        if not resource_base_path.endswith("/"):
            # adds the extra slash to the resource base path
            # in order to avoid file redirection problems
            # and then redirect the user agent to the new page,
            # returning the control flow immediately to caller
            resource_path = resource_base_path.encode(DEFAULT_CHARSET) + "/".encode(DEFAULT_CHARSET)
            self._redirect(request, resource_path)
            return

        # retrieves the directory names for the complete path
        directory_names = os.listdir(complete_path)

        # creates a list for the directory entries
        directory_entries = []

        # iterates over all the directory names
        for directory_name in directory_names:
            # creates the complete file path
            file_path = complete_path + "/" + directory_name

            # normalizes the file path
            file_path = colony.normalize_path(file_path)

            # retrieves the file stat
            file_stat = os.stat(file_path)

            # retrieves the file properties
            file_size = file_stat[stat.ST_SIZE]
            file_modified_date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(file_stat[stat.ST_MTIME])

            # retrieves the file mode
            file_mode = file_stat[stat.ST_MODE]

            # in case the file is of type directory or link
            if stat.S_ISDIR(file_mode) or stat.S_ISLNK(file_mode):
                file_type = FOLDER_TYPE
                file_size = 0
            # in case the file is of type register
            elif stat.S_ISREG(file_mode):
                file_type = FILE_TYPE
            # otherwise
            else:
                file_type = UNKNOWN_TYPE

            # creates the file entry
            file_entry = {}

            # sets the file entry values
            file_entry["name"] = directory_name
            file_entry["size"] = file_size
            file_entry["modified_date"] = file_modified_date
            file_entry["type"] = file_type

            # adds the file entry to the directory entries
            directory_entries.append(file_entry)

        # retrieves the comparator attribute from the request
        comparator = request.get_attribute("comparator") or "name"

        # generates a new comparator method using the comparator string
        # note that this is a key based comparator method
        comparator_method = self.generate_comparator(comparator)

        # sorts the directory entries
        directory_entries.sort(key = comparator_method)
        directory_entries.sort(key = self.type_comparator)

        # creates the directory list structure
        directory_list = {}

        # sets the entries in the directory list structure
        directory_list["entries"] = directory_entries
        directory_list["comparator"] = comparator

        # handles the directory list
        self._handle_directory_list(self.handler_configuration, request, directory_list)