Maximum/Minimum filters and code writing

Dear all,
I'm quite a newbie in creating filters (I'm currently reading the docs and playing around), but I'd like to ask a couple of questions to experts before going any deeper - the answer will determine whether FilterForge is a tool that fits my needs or not.

I'm currently playing with the idea of two different projects, that follows two different workflows.

In the first I'd like to package in a filter a photoshop action from which I've already built a (very raw) javascript with a (very, very raw) GUI: a slider and a OK/Cancel buttons. The goal would be to be able to let the user dinamically pick a "radius" from the slider and see in some preview area the result before launching the full elaboration. First question: this is possible, isn't it? An issue seems to be that, in the action I'd like to program, I make use of both Photoshop Maximum and Minimum filter (plus some few other). But, unlike Gaussian Blur and High pass (that, BTW, I need), they seems to be unavailable in Filter Forge menu. Am I missing something? Is there any workaround, or way I don't know yet to "call" a Photoshop filter/algorithm from FF?

The second project I'd like to realize (with the invaluable help of a friend who works as a programmer), implies the "writing" of a new algorithm that I've read about in a university research whitepaper - it's a "better" surface blur-like filter. Here we have some matlab code that we, somehow, need to translate: options that we're evaluating are Photoshop SDK, the brand new PixelBender from Adobe and FF. Does FF allow some "direct" code writing in some language? AFAIK not, but chances are that I'm not properly informed.

Thanks very much in advance for your help and regards

Davide

Hi TD,
thanks for the answer. I've had time to study FF a bit more and I confirm what you suppose - unfortunately it doesn't fit very well my needs. A workaround for the MAX/MIN filters could possibly be a gaussian blur followed by a harsh move with Levels - but my filter should have a slider controlling the MAX/MIN radius, and parametrize blur+levels is maybe a bit complicate.
Unfortunately, because FF approach to filter building is very interesting - I maybe should move to FilterMeister or PixelBender (PhotoshopSDK seems to be a pain in the neck).
Regards,

Davide

PS
BTW, Maximum and Minimum filter could be my top feature request for FF