PHPNuke is available under the GNU GPL. Which means I am free to distribute it and/or derivative works. Since PHPNuke is free, whatever code I come up with based on it must also be free.

Read the GNU GPL here.

Based on this license, I am free to redistribute a version of PHPNuke, modified to work with VB3 and as a multi-portal rather than a free one. It is okay to charge user to cover costs, though I'm not really sure I even intend to do that. Free is one of my favorite words.

One can even charge for maintenance of their own unique code.

Anyway, the bottom line is nothing about PHPNuke's license would keep this project from going forward.

At any rate, I think I've pretty much decided to release it free when it is done. I will create a forum on my existing site for support short term. I'll happily accept donations towards a second VB3 license at which point I'll set up a dedicated support site.

But free seems to be the way to go. Besides, if its free, more people will use it and will help to make it even better.

I agree. I'm not going to change the nuke core at all.

I think brad means he won't use anything based on the nuke core..

Just to drop everyone a line on the progress...

http://devsite.daily-web.info/

I have been removing all hard links in my original code, making everything as "drop-in" as possible, and documenting the Nuke theme so that those with VB3 custom themes can easily adapt them to phpNuke as well. I want to get this to as close as a no-brainer as possible: no VB3 code or template mods and two-line edits in the nuke mainfile.php for the portal to become "VB aware".

Expect an inital release on May 3rd.

I know you probably don't want to hear this, but how many queries is this going to have? ;)

With all VB content blocks (side and center) active? Twelve.
Add two more to integrate HAMWeather
Add one more if using the Photopost Random Photo block.

Thats the beauty of the datastore caches. You can make one sql call to read in the entire datastore and unserialize whatever cache you need when you need it. I tend to knock around Jelsoft pretty good, but the datastore and the template conditional were pure brilliance.

I use the datastore in 2 of my hacks. Yes, it is great! ;)

How many queries when the cache updates, though?

I don't update the cache. A portal doesn't need up-to-second data. I let the forum manage/update the cache.

Ok, but when the forum updates the cache, how many queries then? ;)

Nothing extra at all.

Whenever the portal is loaded, which is each page view, one SQL query reads in the entire datastore, which I keep as a global variable accessable to all blocks and modules. So, if the cache is updated between page views, the next page view catches the change.

I just changed everything around yesterday so that updating the forum colors/backgrounds via the style manager will automatically change the portal too.

So for the majority of VB3 users that only change colors, this portal will automatically pick up their new style.

For those that have custom styles, the work will be a little more difficult, but not much more so.

For the guys that develop the style...coolness for them.

If they develop the theme as part of the VB3 style, then that will also be a valid standalone Nuke theme, giving them access to a whole new customer base.

So the guys that do themes/skins/whatever for VB3, phpBB, and IPB will soon be able to add phpNuke to the list. More customers, more money.