Redeveloping phpFanBase
Vixx let the cat out of the bag (not that it was a secret, mind) at CodeGrrl recently about me taking on phpFanBase. I’ve made no secret of my dislike for it in its current form so I figured it was probably about time I stopped whinging and actually did something about it… and then my keyboard broke.
Coding is actually quite difficult on this external jobby because of the way it forces my wrists to sit, the amount of desk space it takes up, etc. Anyway, I’m straying from the point… I know some of you — despite my insistance on finding a more up to date script — are still using it. So, I’d like to hear feedback from phpFB users on what they liked and didn’t like about the previous version/s.
The new version relies on the previous database structure to make for easy upgrading and so that people can use existing conversion scripts/etc, so major changes are out of the window. However, lots of things can be achieved with a little PHP magic so if you have thoughts on it, please share. Oh, but I already have a very helpful beta tester (a huge thank you to Cat who has been invaluable with her feedback, suggestions, error reports, etc) so no offers as of yet for that, please. :)
This does not mean I will stop developing BellaBuffs (for those who wonder); although it may seem odd to put work into a “competitor” script I feel confident in my ability to support the two side by side. This benefits those who’re currently undermining their security with the old script, CodeGrrl, and maybe even me. Win-win situation, I reckon.
Edit: it was decided that redeveloping fanbase was probably not the best idea, and that users should convert to other alternatives.
Meli said:
On 13 Feb at 9:00 pm
That sounds wonderful! Ages ago I tried to use phpFB and just didn’t like it. I’m using BellaBuffs now and I got it up and running in five minutes… and most of that time I was doing something else entirely. If you can make phpFB that easy, you’re going to make a lot of people really happy.
Hillarie said:
On 13 Feb at 10:21 pm
I don’t have BellaBuffs on my site, but I’ve tried it out and I wouldn’t even think of using another script if I needed a fanlisting. But, that’s good for phpFB users, I guess.
Manda said:
On 13 Feb at 10:27 pm
A way for users to actually log in if they want to use the script. When I first started out in fanlistings, I tried phpFB, but I couldn’t even get the thing to log me in. So, fixing that up might help :P I’m a hardcore Enth user though, so I’m not sure what other features to suggest.
Han said:
On 13 Feb at 11:31 pm
I always used enthusiast when i was running fanlistings,. ah, I used to do a few scripts, they were pants though, I’m considering now that I actually know coding to make some little ones for myself :D
Lucy said:
On 14 Feb at 1:57 am
Since I’ve always been a PHPFanBase user, what I would really like to see is the Members email hidden from view in the section that lists the newest Members, [the spot that usually says something like: “Welcome to our newest Members…”] since it will still show their email address there, even though they’ve opted to keep it hidden. [If they don’t have a site to take its place while they’re one of the ‘new.’] Good luck with everything, Jem!
Vixx said:
On 14 Feb at 8:05 am
Didn’t realise I was *supposed* to be keeping to quiet. lol As it was due for release shortly before your keyboard broke, I thought people would know shortly anyway! I’ve always liked PHPFB for it’s simplicity. Although Enthu. has some lovely add-ons, as a non-hardcore FLing person, those additions never really interested me, you know? So my number one point would be to please – continue to keep it simple. :) And it’s certainly a win-win for CG. The fact that we ‘give’ space for your support forums etc. just goes to show that we’re not interested in competition, but merely spreading good scripts and good coding practice and support for all, regardless of their coding/design ability. :) I’m leaving before someone says something about a group hug . . . V xx
Jem said:
On 14 Feb at 9:14 am
Nooo, you weren’t.. I was just avoiding saying anything myself until I’d done enough to make it worthwhile mentioning it (if that makes sense). I didn’t want to do a bit, announce it and then die of some horrible disease leaving everyone disappointed ;)
Hillarie said:
On 14 Feb at 11:57 am
NO JEM! DON’T DIE OF A HORRIBLE DISEASE!!! IF YOU DO THE INTERNET WILL SURELY BREAK FROM THE USE OF INSECURE SCRIPTS!!! Alright, I’m fine. I promise you. Just…please don’t die of a horrible disease.
Stephanie said:
On 14 Feb at 2:28 pm
You really can be philanthropic at times, even though you don’t seem that way with your numerous vociferous rants. Most people wouldn’t aid a competitor. I can kind of understand your reasoning in doing so. Hopefully, less people will be hacked from now on.
Puff said:
On 15 Feb at 4:33 pm
I would like to see a comment response feature! It’s always nice to get comments on your fanlistings – And I would love to see a simple way to approve the member and add a comment that they will see in their approval email! I think there’s something similar in PhpFanList..? (I’m not sure, I have never tried Fanlist..) :D Yay for Jem! Best of luck!
Jamie said:
On 15 Feb at 6:03 pm
I love fan admin so some features like it would be great. Specificially: 1. The ability to email all members, just one, or perhaps checkboxes as well. 2. When you get a pending member, the ability to email them from that screen in case there are any issues with their information. 3. When people submit an update info form, they go back on pending until you approve them, that way you don’t have to update their information manually. 4. No password feature.. that is annoying and why I don’t use enth. And as Vixx already said, simplicity. That is why I love phpfb and hate enth. Can’t wait to see the result, Jem :)
Adastra said:
On 15 Feb at 7:06 pm
Are you gonna take on FanAdmin – the admin tool for FanBase as well? Would definitely be useful ;) Well, I’ve re-coded FanBase myself, you can check it out for example at http://fan.skogarna.org/thyrfing to see what kinds of features I consider useful ;)
B. said:
On 18 Feb at 8:34 pm
In order of importance: Pagination. Only display a certain number of members per page. CSS only form + tableless members page(s). An extra field in the admin panel for admin comments. What Puff said. :)
Jem said:
On 18 Feb at 8:39 pm
@B.: 1 & 2 are already done, 3 will be added :)
Akasha said:
On 20 Feb at 10:30 pm
I admire the fact that you’re taking this on because I’m a hardcore FB user. Despite the fact that I know it is unsecure I still use it simply because A) I’m dumb and reckless, obviously and B) I love it so much. I’m glad that someone is updating it so that I can continue to use it. As for suggestions, I would like to have the ability to search and update mass members (for example, place everyone’s email address as hidden) without having to download the MYSQL file and futz around with that. Secondly, I would love to see it in valid Transitional XHTML and valid CSS. While I’ve been able to figure out how to do my own pages I can’t actually figure out the script’s pages without making it die. Finally, if you can edit the edit information script to also automatically show up as a pending member instead of an email sent to me that would be wonderful too. I currently use a script created by miss-newyork.net which is probably not secure either since it is so old but I have yet to find an alternative that works like this. All of these would make me really happy. Good luck on the script!
Vief said:
On 21 Mar at 8:04 pm
Ah this is what I love to read! I know you’re not much of a fan of PHPFB but I am.. and I use it a lot. Somehow sometimes things get broken though, an example is the “last” option, it is supposed to get information from a seperate table but somehow when I have more than one member, that table breaks and nothing shows up so I have to put “last updated” manually. Perhaps that’s a flaw in my database I just wonder why it works when I first setup everything, and works when I have one member, just not anymore when I have two. Table-less members sounds good :)
Trialia said:
On 16 Apr at 2:25 pm
Another hardcore FB user here, and I think it’s great of you to be doing this. :) I’m okay with the insecurity of the script for the time being because nobody really cares enough about my site to mess with it– in five years I have never had it hacked– but having a secure version would be a lot more comforting! Also, CSS-only form will be great. ^_^ I’m another one of the people who strongly dislikes the password feature on Enth– there are people who have tried in the past to slip their URLs by me even when they’re not using a code or they’re hotlinking it when i’ve deliberately removed the URL for just that reason, and passwords just seem to make that easier. Thanks for doing all this, Jem!