Still Hacks?
 

Ok so I was wondering about this and I looked around and I didn't see any answers. Maybe I missed them somewhere... Anyhoos. With the whole plugin and product management system in vbulletin pretty much any hack can be made without actually hacking the files. So I am thinking do Vbulletin.com support forums that are not hacked but use the product system? If they do won't that be the first step towards killing vb.org?

Official support is not given for forums that use modfications. It doesn't make a difference if it is a template change, a code edit, or a plugin installed.

if that where the case. Why would vbulletin even include template systems and a product plugin system. You seem to sugges that vbulletin.com do not support your forum if you edit a template? That seems a little absurd.
They can of course refuse support if the product files are changed. But a plugin doesn't change a file. So if you are paying for the vb product and the support surely you should recieve the support for the product even if plugins are used.

An analog can be made with Avatars and Smileys. Do vb.com support forums with custom smileys?

If you ask for support, and there is even the smallest chance that your issue could be caused by a custom template, the first response will be to try with a new fresh default style.
Since products are effecting the execution of the code (doesn't make a difference if the change is done by a direct file edit, or through some fancy database loaded plugin system) you will not get support if it could be related until you can reproduce the error with all plugins and modifications disabled.

Anyhow vb.org is not the place where you should discuss this. Better discuss it with the Support Staff at vb.com, since they will decide what they support and what not.

Marcho this is all hypothetical. But if I had a plugin installed that messed up and I went to vbulletin.com they could tell me to disable the plugin and then could support me. Has the penny dropped yet?

If that work flow is adopted it starts to supercede the need for a hacking community to be detached from the vbulletin.com site.

I think it does need to be discussed here because I have a theory that vbulletin.com want to pull the plug on vbulletin.org :P

^ ^
people with hacked board have always used vb.com if they can persuade them that any bugs they have are not due to their hacks, because they can be duplicated on a fresh board. The plugin system just makes it even quicker to tell whether to blame the hack or not.

To be honest I dont use vb.com as I dislike the whole holier than thou attitude some people have. And the staff / customer relationship just doesn't feel like a community. Maybe alot of people disagree but the customers are only their because of the product. Maybe I am being a little paranoid that vb.org will vanish.

We could not only tell you to disable all Plugin before asking for support, you will be told to do so if there are problems.
If the problems does not disappear after disabling all plugins/using standard style&files you will get support.

This has always been the case: If you had problems with a hacked board, you had to use unmodified files before you can get support.
The plugin system just makes it a bit easier.

How does what you said differ to what I said?

What are you trying to change with this thread?

Do you wish for vBulletin.com to support your problems that are caused by someone elses code and not theirs

or

Do you want them to remove the plugin system since they will not support someone elses code?