SMF 2.0 and Joomla bridge?

[Ronny]

Is the stable release of SMF 2.0 and the rebirth of the SMF project as open source software (licensed under the BSD License) change the view against the license problems connecting SMF and Joomla! Will it open the door for a Joomla-brigde? I went away from SMF because of this but I miss SMF so much. Joomla and SMF are the best in their source!

[Kindred]

maybe...   it will probably be some time before someone picks up the bridge(s) again though.

[Omega X]

As far as I know, BSD is not compatible with GPLv3. So I doubt that a Joomla bridge will still be legal.

[Kindred]

have to look into it, but if so...    it just re-emphasizes what I have said about the idiocy of the GPL.

[Norv]

As far as I know, BSD is not compatible with GPLv3. So I doubt that a Joomla bridge will still be legal.

Actually, BSD is GPL-compatible.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GPLCompatibleLicenses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FSF_approved_software_licenses

Most GPL-licensed software (i.e. Wordpress, etc) can have extensions/plugins licensed as GPL-compatible licenses, including BSD license.

However, in the Joomla case things may be more complicated. Because according to Joomla,
(http://opensourcematters.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55)

Can I release an extension under a GPL Compatible license?
[...]
Extensions extend and derive from Joomla! and Joomla! is GNU GPL. Therefore extensions cannot be licensed with a less restrictive license.
[...]
For more than two years the Joomla! Project has clearly stated that in its view and the views of the legal experts we have consulted extensions are almost always derivative works for Joomla and must therefore be licensed using the GNU GPL.

BSD is a permissive open source license, GPL-compatible. It is obviously less restrictive than GPL itself.

It seems they require GPL only for extensions, that is, it sounds to me like they do NOT accept a GPL-compatible license.

I will look into this more throughfully though. To my knowledge of past issues as well as other open source projects, however, it is sometimes - like in this case - the choice of the respective software project to accept or disallow extensions licenses in the strictest interpretation of GPL possible - and by that, forbid even GPL-compatible licenses.

Please don't take this as anything but initial brainstorming on the future of Joomla integration, now that SMF itself is BSD licensed, though. I appreciate further opinions on the matter.

[GravuTrad]

It's incredible to see that gpl forbid a thing...for a free licence it's incredible...

[Kindred]

oh...   GPL is probably one of the worst licenses out there...

It **LOOKS** like it's free, but there is actually a built in restriction that anything associated with it has to be GPL (or GPL compatible). The problem, in Joomla's case is that (as I understand it), they are using the most restrictive of GPL versions...   which means that even GPL-compatible might not be valid.

[Oldiesmann]

Best thing to do would be to contact the Joomla devs and ask them specifically. If they still say "no", then we'll just officially give up

[青山 素子]

Actually, BSD is GPL-compatible.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GPLCompatibleLicenses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FSF_approved_software_licenses

Note that in the FSF's mind, GPL-compatible means that the code can be subsumed by the GPL license. Basically, GPL-compatible + GPL = GPL.

It seems they require GPL only for extensions, that is, it sounds to me like they do NOT accept a GPL-compatible license.

I will look into this more throughfully though. To my knowledge of past issues as well as other open source projects, however, it is sometimes - like in this case - the choice of the respective software project to accept or disallow extensions licenses in the strictest interpretation of GPL possible - and by that, forbid even GPL-compatible licenses.

All that means is that any Joomla!-SMF bridge would be required to be GPL-licensed. Even if it contains BSD-licensed code, the whole work would fall under the GPL terms by their view. Note that this is by design of the license.

Depending on how crazy you want to be, this could then go to an extreme where SMF in such a bridged configuration would be covered under the GPL license. Not a huge issue, that, since it only applies to distribution. However, SMF + a pre-installed Joomla! bridge would be required to be GPL-licensed then. Of course, I'm just speculating on that part. If you want to be sure, consult an experienced lawyer.

[Kindred]

and this is yet another reason why GPL is the stupidest license in existence....

[hefesto]

As SMF 2.0+ is using the "new" 3-clause BSD license there's no problem at all with GPL. Take a look at these links:

http://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#OrigBSD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_BSD_license#4-clause

So AFAIK there's no problem at all with Joomla and SMF 2.0 licenses.

Maybe, to avoid confussion, it would be a good idea to follow FSF's recommendation of naming this license SMF is using as "Modified BSD". Just my 2 cents.

[Kindred]

hefesto,

actually- you are incorrect.  Joomla's interpretation of the GPL is actually very rigid and not necessarily the  same as what you would normally interpret.

I am not saying that it can't be done...    I am saying that it will take some time and review before we get a clear feel on whether it should be done. (and besides tha, we have to find a developer who is interested in working on bridges - right now none of our devs are)

[GravuTrad]

Maybe a joomla user who use smf too can....

[Sman1400]

Maybe a joomla user who use smf too can....

http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/communication/forum-bridges/11442

[TwitchisMental]

oh...   GPL is probably one of the worst licenses out there...

It **LOOKS** like it's free, but there is actually a built in restriction that anything associated with it has to be GPL (or GPL compatible). The problem, in Joomla's case is that (as I understand it), they are using the most restrictive of GPL versions...   which means that even GPL-compatible might not be valid.

+1 GPL is suppose to be free software,but in reality it is software how that loon Richard Stallman sees it.  You are still locked in by many rules just like propitiatory software. Which is why I am very happy SMF choose the BSD license.

[NiceCarvings]

Maybe a joomla user who use smf too can....

http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/communication/forum-bridges/11442

I do not recommend this bridge if you value seo or unique url's for your smf forum. I tried it and deleted it almost immediately because of that. It actually functions well enough and seems like its ajax based in an iframe or something, but just not for me. If I'm going to have a forum I want unique urls for each post, etc.

Has anyone tried this? http://www.joomlahacks.com/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,41/func,fileinfo/id,477/

[FidelGonzales]

Maybe a joomla user who use smf too can....

http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/communication/forum-bridges/11442

I do not recommend this bridge if you value seo or unique url's for your smf forum. I tried it and deleted it almost immediately because of that. It actually functions well enough and seems like its ajax based in an iframe or something, but just not for me. If I'm going to have a forum I want unique urls for each post, etc.

Has anyone tried this? http://www.joomlahacks.com/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,41/func,fileinfo/id,477/

I just saw that SMF had modified its licensing, which is great news, particularly for its community but also, seemingly, for those using Joomla. I love SMF.

And the referenced Joomla extension above appeared very promising, but I thank you greatly, Melissa, for the review.

As for Joomla Hacks, I used to make use of it years ago with great results, particularly with search engines, but somewhere along the line it stopped working.

[Pek1]

Is it possible to bridge SMF 2.0.2 with Joomla 1.7 or maybe 1.5 at the moment ? If it is please provide me a link for the files needed.






Greetings,
Peter

[Aravot]

There is the following bridge too, I used it on Joomla 1.5.25 and SMF 2.0.2 site without any major issues (it has few issues but I managed few workarounds).

http://code.google.com/p/sjsb/

If anyone interest porting the bridge to Joomla 2.5 I will sponsor few hours of coding.

[eric1234]

There is the following bridge too, I used it on Joomla 1.5.25 and SMF 2.0.2 site without any major issues (it has few issues but I managed few workarounds).

http://code.google.com/p/sjsb/

If anyone interest porting the bridge to Joomla 2.5 I will sponsor few hours of coding.

how about Joomla 1.7 to SMF 2.0.2?

[Aravot]

Joomla 1.7 reaches end of life and is no longer supported on 24 February 2012 so no point supporting it.

[Pek1]

Joomla 1.7 reaches end of life and is no longer supported on 24 February 2012 so no point supporting it.

How do you mean it's ending its life ? New version coming ? I would really like to see any Joomla bridging with SMF 2.0.2 ..

[Aravot]

Read the Joomla news section http://www.joomla.org/announcements/general-news/5400-joomla-25-beta2-released.html

[Pek1]

Read the Joomla news section hxxp:www.joomla.org/announcements/general-news/5400-joomla-25-beta2-released.html [nonactive]

Oh nice, thank you. But the next version of Joomla is going to be released in September 2012 ? Anyway, if there are any news about bridging SMF and Joomla, please inform me with PM or in topic  .

[Aravot]

Please read the article thoroughly, before posting...

[kainby]

There is the following bridge too, I used it on Joomla 1.5.25 and SMF 2.0.2 site without any major issues (it has few issues but I managed few workarounds).

ht__:hxxp:code.google.com/p/sjsb/ [nonactive]

If anyone interest porting the bridge to Joomla 2.5 I will sponsor few hours of coding.

I really need a bridge between the smf 2.0.2 and Joomla 2.5.1. to help yet nothing I can, just like to thank the big human thanks

PS use the Google translator is sorry for the bad language

[Bigguy]

Anyone got any news on a possible bridge

[GravuTrad]

http://www.jfusion.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7340&start=0

http://www.jfusion.org/docs/doku.php/id,smf;introduction/

[Bigguy]

Thanks for the links. I'll check em out.

[Peter_AUS]

jFusion does work with SMF, I just set it up today, have used it with Joomla, vBulletin and Gallery2 for past couple of years, and converted a test vBulletin conversion to SMF today and had no problems getting jFusion to work. You just have to follow the wizard for configuration and read the documentation for each plugin.

[waris]

I was  reading some Joomla doc whic says you can bridge Joomla sites withSMF sites using
jfusion and jfusion connect!

Can somebody comment on this?

[Kindred]

as far as I know, jfusion WILL connect smf to joomla.

also, as far as I know, this is only a partial bridge. It doesn't fully integrate the two. (although I could be wrong with that, I no longer use Joomla)

[Hj Ahmad Rasyid Hj Ismail]

waris, a post just before your post have confirmed that. Though it can do most of the thing but as Kindred mentioned it is only a partial bridge.

[verbos]

Does anyone have a solution for joomla 3.x ?

A partial bridge would be nice already!

[Kindred]

nope...

[Bigguy]

jfusion bridge works...I just installed it. If someone wants to try it go to this site and register and see if it works for me. All looks good in the admin panel and I think all settings are right.

EDIT:
Nope not working yet, lol. I changed something and broke it...but it was working.

EDIT:
Holy crap, don't use xcache with joomla. Also somewhere in the process of installing joomla I can't get on their site now for some reason.

[Bigguy]

Ok, I got the bridge working, found a fix for xcache and NOW all seems to be fine, lol. I'll post a link when I get a bit further, or get the link from my sig and try it now, lol. Anywho. I do believe there is a brdge for SMF and joomla. Lots of options to that I can see.

EDIT: Works with 2.1

Things that work:
who's online
topics display on Joomla from SMF
user Pm on Joomla
login to both from joomla

Something still need to be configured a bit but most is up and running.

[Bigguy]

So I have tested everything I think with the jfusion bridge from Joomla to SMF 2.1. things that do work:

Login and out and register in Joomla also does for SMF
recent topics on front page works great.
removed the login/out from SMF as it is not needed.
Who's online works

I think that is it. If I have left anything out then I will post later about it. This site is a test site really for the SMF to Joomla bridge by Jfusion. Check it out if you like. I would like to say now that I do believe there is a working bridge between Joomla and SMF.

http://www.bigguysweb.info

[sangham.net]

Thanks for your effort, share and you invitation Bigguy!

[Bigguy]

Your more than welcome.

[handy1]

Joomla 3.3.3 and SMF 2.0.8 bridge? Yep, have googled and it's seems that newest bridges are about 2 years old
http://www.joomplace.com/bridges/joomla---smf-bridge-community-builder-version.html

Maybe someone has made this and could help us to update this bridge?

[Kindred]

Nope...  Doesn't exist, as far as I know...

[handy1]

Trying to get developer for do this. Will post on this topic if I found solution