third-party app integration question

I am curious about the methodology of integrating a
third-party 
application into Xaraya, specifically how you would be able
to keep the 
app files unmodified in order to allow upgrading those files
as new 
releases are distributed.

For example, if I one were to integrate something like
phpbb3 into 
Xaraya, it would be necessary for it to somehow use Xaraya's
templating 
system without modifying phpbb3's templates.

Is this even possible, or would something like require
modification of 
those files.

Just curious.
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bigteeth wrote:
> I am curious about the methodology of integrating a
third-party 
> application into Xaraya, specifically how you would be
able to keep the 
> app files unmodified in order to allow upgrading those
files as new 
> releases are distributed.
> 
> For example, if I one were to integrate something like
phpbb3 into 
> Xaraya, it would be necessary for it to somehow use
Xaraya's templating 
> system without modifying phpbb3's templates.
> 
> Is this even possible, or would something like require
modification of 
> those files.
> 
> Just curious.

Depends what kind of integration you want to do :

1. None

Provide URL links between both systems 

2. Cosmetic

Use similar layout/styles/colors/... for both systems. Or
perhaps use
an iframe or the window module to "integrate"
phpbb3 visually within
Xaraya pages.

3. Linked login

Users from one system are automatically identified in the
other system.
This can be done in one direction (phpbb -> xaraya), in
the other
direction (xaraya -> phpbb), or in both directions.

The authphpbb2 module for instance lets your existing phpbb2
users be
"known" in xaraya, but not the reverse - there are
no changes to phpbb2
in this case. With phpbb3, its hook system might allow you
to do it the
other way around as well.

4. Shared data

Let xaraya and/or phpbb use data from the other system, e.g.
user info
and preferences, etc. In both cases, adaptation to one or
the other
code will be needed, but as I understand it phpbb3 should
simplify
this too.

5. Re-use functions/methods

If you know xaraya, you can relatively easily call functions
from
elsewhere and integrate their output into xaraya pages - not
sure
how easily phpbb3 allows you to re-use functions/methods
itself...

6. Common templating

Does phpbb3 allow you to override its templating ? Is it
worth it ?

7. Combine functions/methods and templating

This probably goes too far in terms of what you need for
integration


In general, 2 + 3 are the most common ways of integrating
the 2
systems, and you can upgrade either/both relatively
independently
from each other.

Mike.
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