Bridge for phpbb 3.x.x

This is a topic best suited for the Mods & Development forum, this has been asked previously as welk.
Here are some relevant topics:
https://efiction.org/forums/index.php?topic=6722.0
https://efiction.org/forums/index.php?topic=6081.msg33722#msg33722

If you're amenable to the suggestion, you could use Joomla as an application framework that is like one big gigantic "plug". Joomla has several known PHPBB3 bridges (including RokBridge), and I've just released my JFiction mod which bridges eFiction to Joomla. If you use Joomla as a framework, it can serve as the conductor and do the "heavy lifting" for you, and can handle all core user functions (such as login/logout, registrations, sessions, etc.). eFiction then can be free to just be eFiction.

As a matter of fact, I have a public test environment for JFiction already set up. I'm tempted to install PHPBB3 with RokBridge and see how they all play together, since you're not the only person wanting to use PHPBB3.  😎

UPDATE
I am now working on PHPBB3 in my online lab.

OMG

I have installed WordPress, Joomla, several other CMS that I can't even remember, and even have played with Drupal. I have set up whole sites for people, and have developed my own personal extensions. I've evaluated and written documentation on more stuff than I care to recall. I'm not scared of technical stuff, and love a challenge.

That said, PHPBB3 has got to be the single WORST thing I've ever had the misfortune of playing with in recent memory. 🙁

I have re-installed this beast TWICE and my super administrator ID (whatever PHPBB3 calls it) STILL isn't recognized by the system. I've manually added a separate board admin user directly through PHPMyAdmin as instructed on the help forums... and my board STILL won't let me login to the administrator section (though I can log in via the UCP and my ID does display as administrator). No errors are registering in the system, so unfortunately this doesn't look like a technical bug, but more of a logic problem (those are the WORST to troubleshoot).

I've done more digging, and there are even PHPBB developers who aren't happy with PHPBB3.

In short, this is a hot mess of a script. If this were for clients, or friends (or even someone I remotely liked), I would strongly advise them to ditch this dog. Unless you are already committed to using it, I would back away pronto. Even if you used PHPBB2, I'd suggest you migrate to something else. This thing makes me miss SMF even more (though I haven't used it in projects in ages due to the Joomla licensing fallout, I still have to give them props for what so far has been best free standalone forum script out there).

I'll still keep pressing forward, as I do want to test JFiction with PHPBB3 since so many seem to insist on using it. But, for me personally, I'll stick with Joomla native forum extensions (i.e., Kunena, Agora Forum, etc.) - they are so easy to install, are actively developed, already integrated, and don't weigh in at ridiculous megs.

Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, I am just stunned at how so many people rave over this board given what I'm learning now.  I'll get over my frustration and see if I can get this thing working in my lab.  😀

SUCCESS!!!
Kvetching helps once again. After slogging through more Google links than I care to admit, it looks like I found the "magic bullet" for curing my admin login ailments. I still stand by my rant, though - makes no sense that Joomla is easier than a forum! Okay, back to the lab I go. I'll report on the Joomla / JFiction / PHPBB3 trifecta as soon as I've run some tests.

@Brat

So if it was to you,

phpbb <-- Bridge --> Joomla <-- Bridge --> eficition

or what will be a good alternative for phpbb as a Joomla Plugin?

Yes, that would be the schema.  😀

The trick of course is finding a PHPBB3 bridge that (1) plays well with other authentication plugins  and (2) doesn't require you to hack a dozen PHPBB files (which could make upgrading a nightmare).

If you choose instead to allow Joomla to be the traffic cop of your site, that gives you really a lot of options as to what to use.

My experimental site is located below:
http://lab.flyingmaverick.com

I chose Kunena ( http://www.kunena.com/ ) for the following reasons:

• Joomla native - no bridging necessary! I've had a lot of experience with the old Joomlahacks SMF bridge, and even provided plugins for it. Trust me, you do not want to "go there" if you take my meaning. Save your hair and a LOT of frustration!
• Belongs to the "trifecta" that includes Kunena, CB and GroupJive (yes, they are all now either partnered up or outright managed by the CB development team)
• Skinnable (check out the site I Love Kunena for some sample themes - my site is using one of them)
• Relatively small footprint
• Can take advantage of several other third-party extensions to provide messaging, etc. - it's not built into the core so you can use what you want! Kunena supports several

You can read up on Joomla's forum options here:
http://extensions.joomla.org/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=1778&Itemid=2

Find something that works for you, keeping in mind your future site growth (i.e., social networking and profiling options).

As I have told others who have asked me in private messages, let Joomla do the heavy lifting. That's what it is designed at the core to do. If Joomla isn't your thing, find a CMS that has a good, solid plugin architecture and write an authentication for eFiction. The point is, let eFiction focus on what it's good for, and allow the CMS to do the messy work.  😉

I did a little more slogging through PHPBB3 and such.

I stand by my initial post.  👿

PHPBB3 should be mercifully put out of its misery. Even if I weren't using Joomla, I'd stay far away from this thing. The bridges I sampled had side-effects (i.e., didn't play well with other authentications, including JFiction). And, as I said before, there are even PHPBB developers who hate this thing.

If you're using Joomla as your CMS, I would say just use one of the many forum component options, and then add any missing functionality via additional third party extensions (since the CMS, not the forum, controls the entire system).

Wish it could have worked out - PHPBB has amazing free themes available. Oh well, I'll just port them to Kunena.  😉