Web site optimization - 346 CHAPTER 11 MODIFYING PHPBB Looking Ahead
346 CHAPTER 11 MODIFYING PHPBB Looking Ahead to phpBB 3.0 Modifications For the truly adventurous, this section examines some of the underlying changes in phpBB 3.0 that will affect the way modifications are written in the future. phpBB version 3.0 will contain a number of programming changes that will make it even easier for people to modify the board. While the mechanics of installing modifications are not expected to change, creating modifications will be a bit different. Caution This section s contents are based on a prerelease version of phpBB 3.0. The objects I briefly describe here have not been finalized yet and should be considered subject to change as of this writing. As phpBB evolves, the aim is to make the code simpler to understand, not harder. You will find that phpBB 3.0 s source code is even more thoroughly documented than phpBB 2.0. Additionally, the framework is being put in place to support PHPDoc-style documentation, which generates HTML pages that explain how methods work, why they exist, and how to access them. This will permit easily updated and accessible developer documentation, making hacking phpBB easier than ever. Another change is that phpBB 3.0 places users and permissions into their own objects. Previously, phpBB 2.0 provided the get_userdata() function as a way to retrieve user information from the database. In phpBB 3.0, you will use a userobject, similar to how you manipulate the database and template engine in the phpBB 2.0 world. This will make working with user data a lot more sensible and more encapsulated. Plus, userobjects help as the programming front end to the advanced authentication plug-ins that phpBB 3.0 will provide. Similarly, phpBB 3.0 will provide authentication and permissions information in an auth object. You will be able to retrieve all permissions information using an auth object, as well as access control lists for users and other items in the phpBB system. The auth object also provides phpBB s login services. Finally, phpBB 3.0 will also work with sessions as objects, which will constitute a far more structured version of the phpBB 2.0 sessions system. You will have more flexibility with this system, compared to version 2.0. Sessions were a sticking point for a lot of budding programmers in phpBB 2.0, and having a session object (as it will be called in code) consolidates the functionality and makes it much easier to access and understand. On a related note, changes in the session system will permit you to forego the infamous append_sid()function, which plagues phpBB 2.0 hackers everywhere. Summary We re almost to the finish line for this part of the book. You ve installed, configured, secured, and modified your phpBB installation. A truly great phpBB typically does not come clad in subSilver, however. Chapter 12 will take you through adding a touch of style to your community, helping to set it apart from the rest.
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