What do you think about plugins automatically adding code to templates? As in; instead of normally editing a template it will use a str_replace to dynamically add it when the page loads

As far as I'm concerned it's nothing but problematic unless you are using something which is always going to be there custom skin or not. IE. $navbar is in most templates but <!-- Navbar --> for example, isn't.

Plus, users may be able to edit template but not php. Which means if they don't want, say, a navigation link where the hack automatically puts it in, they don't get much of a choice and may either uninstall the hack or ask you for unnecessary assistance.

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I honestly don't like the automatic editing done to templates via products/plugins. It's a real hassle especially when dealing with custom templates. I believe it also helps the users learn to start coding on their own.

For example, when I went from a phpbb board to a vbulletin board. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, lol. But now......after I've looked and edited soooo many products/plugins/modifications, and done template editing for those mods, things start coming to you as they're obvious.

(BTW, I still need to learn PHP, lol)

People can't learn without doing

It's risky business. Any plugin that does that should include an auto backup and restore of all impacted templates.

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Joe Ward / vBHackers.com
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