Erm, you are aware of WinSCP?
From the GUI point of View, there is not much of a difference to any FTP Client ...

I am aware of it yes :)

I just am happy to get along with Windows's standard FTP - Most people hate it but it is extremely simple to use :p

Satan

This is not true. Many "plugins" require you to upload an installer file to run, before being able to use the "plugin".

So you have plugins with no uploads, and plugins with uplaods.

We may also need a 3rd category (no code modification), since many of the hacks in "code modification" contain no code modification. Example, vB Survey, you just upload it, run install, then call the new file survey.php from any template..

So it does not use the new vB plugin system, but it does not require code modification either.

As a user, I would saty away from it, since it's listed as a code modification, and I may prefer not to modify my vB code. This would be misleading to members, since it requires no code modification whatsover, neither to vB, or anything else, yet thay are labeled "code modification".

out of curiosity, does it change the database?

It does not change vBulletin's tables, but it adds it's own new tables.

Many of the hacks listed under plugins modify vB tables :)

The same can be said for some existing vB3 and vB2 hacks though - They actually modify no existing vBulletin code, but simply use the vBulletin template system and database structure to function :)

I believe a third forum is required though - Plugins, Code Modifications and Forum Extensions...

Technically, since it does not alter vBulletin code, nor "Plug in" directly, it extends the functionality of the forum through using the vBulletin system to power itself and provide functionality ;)

Satan

I dont think mods that change the database would fall in that category though, unless its a new table with a really wierd name that will never be used by vBulletin itself. imo anyway

I think we're in agreement here that a 3rd classification is required, and "extensions" does sound good, but also sounds a bit like "plugin" :)

vB2 and vB3 didn't have this issue, since they were classified by functionality (forum home, admin, thread etc)

It seems very simple to me - if an existing file is edited its a code modification, otherwise it goes in the the plugins section (uploading new files is not editing, it's plugging in new files). Is it really so hard ?

Paul M Said it. Why is this so misunderstanding. There should be 2 cats. 1. Code Mods. If your hack edits one line or more of the orignal PHP code. Then its a code mod. Otherwise its not. Guess we'll have to wait untill the admins come on....