Simple Machines Community Forum

Customizing SMF => SMF Coding Discussion => Topic started by: ExoBucks on October 12, 2020, 02:04:59 PM

Title: Integrating ExoBucks for Forum Owners
Post by: ExoBucks on October 12, 2020, 02:04:59 PM
Hi everyone,

We're considering creating a plugin for ExoBucks (exobucks.com).

We have some Javascript code that forum owners copy/paste to any website and it'll automatically pass external links through our URL shortener.  We were also thinking of using the API to generate real shortened links at the time any post is made with external links in it - which would obviously need to be a plugin.

But in terms of just adding our Javascript code, how difficult do forum owners generally find that to be?

It's just the same as adding Javascipt for other services like Google Analytics.  Do forum owners tend to be able to do this on their own or is a plugin actually needed to do this?

Thanks for opinions!
Title: Re: Integrating ExoBucks for Forum Owners
Post by: Suki on October 12, 2020, 02:15:16 PM
Hi, welcome to SMF.

In terms of how SMF users add custom code to their forums there isn't a definite answer, some prefer to add the code on their own as it gives them enough freedom to suit their own needs. Some prefer to use SMF modifications, I would say the latter is the preferred form to add custom code, specially if the plugin can properly handle being installed on multiple themes or be usable if custom themes are added later.

Take a look at the google analytics mod: https://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2210 to give you an idea of how adding custom code to SMF can be handle via a modification.