******NEW WP2SMF Bridge 2020...COMING SOON!!!!!!******

[Korotana365]

Hi there All,

Having been frustrated by all the searching on the net and the like, I have now gotton a team together and will be building a WP to SMF Wordpress plugin.

So my question to all you SMF buffs, out there:

What are the main features that you're looking for, without making it too expensive (it is a paid plugin but will be managed, loved and updated).

It will be like this attached image, and initially will have a SSO(single sign on) in both databases - WP and SMF  will know you've logged in and are registered and logged out....

The SMF will be in the iFrame of the WP site and can be Opened in New Window if required or in the same window.

You thoughts and suggestion would be most appreciated.

Kindly

Kuldip

[Arantor]

Ew, iframes.

[Kindred]

Iframes are indeed the wrong way to do this...

[Mick.]

How's that going to work with Firefox browser?

[Arantor]

How's that going to work with Firefox browser?

Fine if you take out the security measure in SMF...

[Mick.]

How's that going to work with Firefox browser?

Fine if you take out the security measure in SMF...

That's not the way to go tho lol

[shinglis]

Oh Divi...

I would be interested in this bridge. so some comments or suggestions.,

- needs to have DB integration, single sign on etc
- WP widget(s) similar to existing portals, for lastest posts, stats etc.
- possible linking post comments to forum topic. (i.e. cross posting)

I have no idea how difficult any of the above would be to implement but you asked for comments 

[Korotana365]

thanks yo'all for your comments, i don't know what itll end upi being, but your comments are a start..Please keep'm  coming.

I know those you  have said Eww, its not for everyone and its a start...

[Arantor]

Thing is, for properly built themes, iframes aren't required. In fact, depending on the site configuration, your plugin for SMF has to go out of its way to make SMF *less secure* to make it work.

That's the part I said 'ew' about, the use of iframes which for most activities should just go away and die.

SMF has for 15 years had features to help handle and integrate themes into things using the layers system, designed for integrating with CMSes.

[Kindred]

exactly...    don't use iframes.   seriously -- just don't.   Even aside from the security implications, it ends up making the forum look like something completely separate, not part of the site.


You are aware that there is a current bridge SMF <-> WP already, yes?

[Korotana365]

Not update for yrs and not in touch with what today's smfer's want

[Korotana365]

Having an smf inside a wp site enable the user to click on links and tabs of the wp site.

Having a SSO amd other wp plug-in "wants" can be an option to invite and encourage peeps to see formula as an alternative to FB and other social media sites and having wp with its pages can be good, or a flop, but I'm open to seeing it go with way...

This  is my current version:

Dev2.Stdd.Kuldipkorotana.Com

Dev2.Stdd.Kuldipkorotana.Com/forum

More to come

[Arantor]

No-one is disputing the value of putting the forum inside WP.

Everyone is just disputing the *how*. SSO is necessary but iframes are not a requirement for SSO. All you need to do is implement the functionality in SMF that just doesn't show the header, while embedding the rest of the page into the WP theme...

[Kindred]

and, BTW: I believe the existing WP <-> SMF bridge was updated just over a month or two ago....

Here is one SMF to Wordpress
https://www.smfhacks.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=228

The second part is Wordpress To SMF
https://github.com/xchwarze/WP2SMFBridge

[Korotana365]

wp2smfbridge

3 yrs ago it was updated.

And thats my problem..

https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp2smfbridge/


Version:2.0.0 Last updated:3 years ago Active installations:60+

Thats 60 installations, does that tell you something.. yes it does,... its not popular or what SMF'ers want or need, so now is the time to get behind me please and make a difference...

If this option is NOT your cuppa tea, thats ok, but for those who might want a WP --->SMF , here is you opportunity to get behind this project and send me and tell me  what you'd like...

NOT, what you don't like or want...

I really want to make  a difference and its through yo'all that this can be a success...


Kuldip

[Deaks]

Personally I would never use this, integration should be flawless Iframes dont allow that.  Also you are saying current one was updated 3 years ago.  That 3 years listed is when it was added to github the 2 main files were updated 2 months ago.

bridge.php   Added support for SMF 2.0.16+ with the hash_hmac cookie changes   2 months ago

I would also worry as the demand is not going to be as high as you think, the demand will be small so please remember this when setting your price.  I dont want to sound too critical nor discourage your creativity however I think that people are more likley to use the free one that is tested and is done in a safer way.

[Korotana365]

Kindred, yes i see the README was updated 2 months ago...but its not reflected on wordpress.org.

As for the great question by MICK:

"How's that going to work with Firefox browser?"


how would you like it to be in Firefox Browser or Chorome Or Safari?

You thoughts would be most appreciated


Kuldip

[Korotana365]

Yes Deaks, you're right, but right now I'm just building up a profile of what really needed for 2020... and if it works great, if not.. it was a topic worthy of talking about...

Kindly

Kuldip

[Deaks]

some advice look at making it for 2.1, you are more likley to get people buying something if you have an image than shooting for the stars and falling.  Its admirable that you aiming high and want to get an image, but release mods on the mod site for free, build a name while you are working on this, you may be able to do what some do free version and a paid version.  SMF 2.1 while it's in development the user base is growing and needs mods and themes you have a growing market their.

[Kindred]

Just so you know... the main reason why there are so few uses of the bridge is because most people who are running smf don't want to run Wordpress...   after all, a forum site is a very different beast from a blog site.

Our biggest integration used to be smf <-> mambo/joomla.  Which was an actual cams rather than a repurposed blog. In the time since then, the portal systems for smf have improved by leaps and bounds.

Which is not to say that you can't or shouldn't do it...  but you seem to be under some mistaken impressions....  and I will say again, serisoily, to get a good integration, stay away from iframes. Focus on implementing smf seamlessly into Wordpress, and you might have a few buyers.

[shadav]

just my 2 cents worth as well...on top of the already ewwww, yikes, iframes.....it may not be very popular, as I found in my own experience that wordpress caused/allowed all kinds of security issues....i eventually just deleted the entire thing because I got fed up with trying to patch and fix it constantly....
not saying don't do it if you wish to, but .... don't expect it to be a money maker.....

[Korotana365]

Still working on this.. no funds available since Covid broke out...

[Korotana365]

Still working on it - ye faithful ones...

[Douglas]

and, BTW: I believe the existing WP <-> SMF bridge was updated just over a month or two ago....

Here is one SMF to Wordpress
https://www.smfhacks.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=228

The second part is Wordpress To SMF
https://github.com/xchwarze/WP2SMFBridge

For anyone wondering, vbgamer45's SMF to WP bridge works GREAT on SMF 2.1 RC3 and the latest WordPress (5.7.1).

[crystalgroves]

This seems to work great, just tested it out on an install, but question..

How does it integrate WP roles versus Forum roles? Or does it still have to be set between? (which is fine, I just want to figure out how it integrates roles by default)

[[chrisB]]

There used to be a paid WP > SMF bridge which was quite good, but the developer started spending less time on fixing bugs and keeping up with releases. I think a well-written script that does get maintained well, with good support, could attract a good client base.

But, there will always be people who expect it for free.

Personally, I think SMF there's plenty of room for bridges. Joomla/Mambo to me are quite clunky and not very modern.

I haven't used Joomla 4, but I used version 3 and never felt it worked well.

WordPress is quite slick, easy to set up and customise.

SMF is probably the best free forum solution, I like MyBB but it suffers from a worse case of missing bridges/integrations. SMF 2.1 looks awesome but for content creators, it's not enough to have a forum. You need something to bring in users. I don't believe people solely join forums these days, as it's quite a retro thing now. My 16-year-old son doesn't see the point in forums with social media and that's a big issue.

Ironically, I find it amusing when Wordpress is labelled just a blog. It's widely used by many now, I know of major coperations that use it. The days of seeing Joomla used for example, seems a lot rarer since the 2010's.

[[chrisB]]

It works perfectly with WordPress 6.1.1 👍🏻