New filter gegl:xcf-load so Gimp has something like Adobe's "Smart Object compositions"
I am making this request to compliment the work of CMYK Student's non-destructive filters. The request is for a new GEGL operation named gegl:xcf that renders an .xcf file as normal image so that will be just like any other layer in Gimp.
Adobe Photoshop has the ability to link an entire composition of its native .psd file format as a layer within Photoshop. Meaning a huge composition with many layers, is just a normal layer in another composition. But with one sure addition, When used as a non-destructive filter it updates in real time, so when the .psd file updates so does the layer. This is seen in Krita under the term "file layer" where an imported .kra file updates in real time. And Pixelitor as "Smart Objects" where the .pxc file update causes the layer in Pixelitor to update. Pixelitor uses the same terminology as Adobe.
Gimp could easily gain the ability to do "smart object compositions" if it had a filter that could import xcf files like it does with pdfs, png, jpg and webp. At the final result it would look something like this
gegl:xcf-load=/home/username/Pictures/testing_graphics/September2022/clay_test.xcf
and when the .xcf updates the layer updates.