Hello!

I chose XOOPS as a portal-engine. I liked its OO-concepts and simplicity of using different modules. But my task is very unusual, so I need to develop some modules from scratch. That's why I wanted to get a "The XOOPS Developers Handbook" or "The XOOPS Developers Bible", but failed.
Of cource, I found dev.xoops.org, docs.xoops.org, https://xoops.org/misc/api/, http://dev.xoops.org/modules/phpwiki/ - all in thundreds of different pages. And I want to havó them in a single document. I can "Print" or "Pdf" this forum topic, but cannot do this with phpwiki or documentation generated by phpDocumentor.

I can use them as references, but not as learning materials.


P.S. Of cource, I can develop all with PHP and paste it into XOOPS. But should I start with BAD style modules for XOOPS?

I don't have the API in PDF format or anything, however, a while ago I authored the Kickstart Guide for Xoops. It was intended as a multi-part series as to how to develop modules for Xoops. I only completed the first part, in which, will get you up and running with a module the right way. The module is very simple, it greets the person logged in, but has correct structure, uses XOOPS classes, accesses the current user to greet them by name, is multi-lingual, etc...

You can access the guide in PDF format:

http://jeremy.cowgar.com/files/xoops-kickstart-guide.pdf

The wiki it was located on is no longer in service, so this is the only usable format I have of it.

Hope it helps you out!

Hello ident and welcome to XOOPS forums

Unfortunately I cant help you either in respect of a "Xoops Bible"

You alreday have seent the API and the devs site. Let me suggest you look here http://www.worldware.com/modules/xoopermod/ and use this module as a guide to some protocols.

Dave_L is also constructing a QA and standards policy for module construction. He may be able to throuw some info your way.

Richard

Hi, I'm actually trying to get a PDF up-to-date core + modules API/code documentation done, but it's been kinda tricky... look at what I've got so far here: http://www.zoo.bio.br/docs/

The oficial documentation site, http://docs.xoops.org , is also a must visit. Good luck

Thank you all!

Your answers helped me to formulate more clearly what I want to know about a development for XOOPS!

IMHO, there are 3 main ways in modules development:
1. Existing module customization (styles, terms, fields, etc.)
2. Existing module extending (adding new features, optimizing, ...)
3. Creating new module (based on "empty" module).

In any case programming experience and knowledge is essential. But the next most importang aspect is diffenrent. You must know:
1. XOOPS module architecture and templates dependencies.
2. Current module logic and defenition of the functions used in it.
3. Book of code snippets and "ready to use" examples.


And first of all I want to have small good examples for the following questions:
1. How to handle forms input (wrong data)? Can XOOPSForms help?
2. How to render styled standard elements (tables, records, labels, images)? What can replace pure html?
3. How to store session data? Is there any special XOOPS repository?
4. How to handle module process-logic errors? Can I use a kind of module exceptions handler?
5. What fetures of the Smarty can I use in XOOPS? And what limitations forced by XOOPS?
6. What useful global XOOPS variables are available in module?
..

It is easy to find how to use XOOPS, but not how to be a modules creator...

P.S. I want to have a single file, beacause it is more convinient to search in a local copy.