Users Component Under Development

[MamboJoe]

Hi All,

Over the last few months I've been using mambo and have been frustrated by the user component that is included in the core of mambo. I've experiemented with numerous solutions such as userlist, user_extended, phil-a-form, user_approver, etc but have not found what I'm looking for. As a result I've decided to create my own users component. I have seen posts on various forums that indicate I'm not the only one that would like a more robust user component and would like to get suggestions, ideas, etc so that this component will be useful to the whole mambo community. I hope to have a beta version out in the next couple of weeks but this is a list of the features I'm thinking of:

User Profile: Page users can go to to maintain information their own information and view the details of others like icq, aim, msnm, yim, website address, mailing address, interests, bio, picture/avatar, age, gender, etc. This would have all the normal functionality of a user profile like most BB systems have.

User List/Search: This was inspired by the original userlist page with many more features and search criteria.

Integrations: Currently I've only really considered integrating with the myPMS so allow for private messaging from a users profile. I'm open to other suggestions for integration points.

Registration Approval: Incorporate an approval step if required by a site admin.

Configurable Email Templates: Allow the admin to define the text of the emails sent to users upon approval.

Subscription: This will all for setting up a pay based subscription site that will require a credit card transaction as part of the registration process. The only credit card processor that I'm planning on integrating with is Authorize.net but do plan to make the component extensible so other cc processors could be added (i.e. paypal, verisign, etc).

Configuration: This component will include a comprehensive configuration section in the administrator to allow you to control what fields you want to use, which will be required, whether to integrate with myPM, how many users per page in the user list, etc.

One of the fundamental issues I've contemplated with doing this extensive of a user component is what do with with the core component. Unless someone can persued me otherwise I'm going to keep my component just that, a component and not a hack of existing pages that the user has to replace/maintain after every release/upgrade. As a results there will be one component, that will require several menu items and a module for login/registration. I'm considering adding a step in the install or a little utility or script that will auto add the menu items. I'd be interested to hear thoughts on this one.

Please let me know what you think and any thing else you'd like to see. I know there are lots of great ideas that I haven't thought/read of yet.

[idigital]

Put it up on MOSForge man!

[ndastur]

Get idea, was going to start something similar myself. Do you need a hand?

[TJay]

this is really needed.
I am not that great on codeing, but can do graphics and documentation and testing.
If I can help count me in.

TJay

[MamboJoe]

Thanks for your support...

I do plan on adding this component on MOSForge.net, the whole Forge concept is a little new to me so I'm poking around at it now.

TJay - Thanks for the offer for Testing, Documentation, and Graphics. I might take you up on that. When I get something out there let me know how you think you can contribute best.

ndastur - What did you have in mind? I'm always looking for a hand.

[TheEdge]

Hear, hear - I think this component would be invaluable. The base functionality in the user component is way too basic. Count me in for testing.

[TJay]

If everyone with skills got together on this I am sure we could get it done. I have some basic PHP MySql skills, I have written documentation, something that is lacking in a lot of comps, and I can do artwork. I agree MosForge might be a good start for colaboration.
We might want to start by looking at existing user profiles, Yahoo PHPBB
I have not looked at the one on this forum other than to change my avatar.

[frankyxl]

This is what i am looking for !, somebody else is busy with it, look at www.h-blogs.de. But your component sounds better. I can help testing it if you like. Great job !!!

[Nick Weavers]

We need an extended user profile too. I would like to see everything you mentioned so far, but would also like news/content hooked in too so that a user could narrow his data feeds down to his specific areas of interest. This has a wide scope and would probably have to involve more components by getting them to check the users profile. The menu system for example. If a users profile says he is interested in certain categories then it would be nice if the menu system only showed those. The profile should be used to personalise the users window into the portals content.

Nick.

[tchilly]

A funny little thing I would like to see also, is an individual guestbook and diary, so users can communicate and share his/hers tought, aswell a individual image gallery... wohaaa, this is a lot´of work, i cannot code php very well, but i'm an kick *** designer

Keep us posted with ur progress