vbHacker & vbHackMaker

Version 1.0.1 released! [March 25th, 18:30]
New:
~ Backup files: Now the script will backup files before editing them. You can disable this, and also change the extension of the backup file. (note: the folder in which the files reside must be writable)
~ CHMOD: The script will try to CHMOD files instead of just dying. The parent folder must be writable if you want the script to CHMOD files in it.
~ Another small fix there's not much to say about.

Ok here's something I wrote yesterday, and today after testing it on serveral forums I can finally release it.

What is it?
vbHacker is a script that automatically installs hacks for you. It takes a xxxxx.hack.php file and comes up with the install script for it. This means you only need vbhacker.php to sit in your admin folder, and just upload data files every time you want to install a new hack.

How does one create hack files?
To make these xxxxx.hack.php data files, please read the post about vbHackMaker:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...&postid=231705

The script does the following:
~ Hack files (only PHP have access to write that file)
~ Install new templates
~ Update existing templates
~ Run queries
If anything fails, the script skips it. Then you are taken to a page that lists all the changes the script couldn't do, with instructions how to do them yourself.

You also have the option to generate a plain text file with complete hacking instructions, in case you prefer that.
The installer also checks for your vBulletin version, warning you if the versions mismatch.

I took some screen shots earlier of the various steps.

Hack chooser - This is the part where you see a list of all hacks you have and you can choose which one, and whether to install it or create a text file:
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/1_chooser.gif
For the next screen shots I chose the Quick Reply Box hack.

Elements to install - There you can choose what parts of the hack you want to install. There are four main parts: File hacks, new templates, template edits and queries. This is good for upgrades if you only want to update the templates, and nothing else.
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/2_quick_elements.gif

Specific changes - A more specific step that allows you to select exactly what changes to what files/templates you want to make. Once again, this is helpful when upgrading.
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/3_quick_config.gif

Auto installer - The core of the script that actually installs the hack. This is how it looks like when it works fine:
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/4_quick_auto_ok.gif
And this is how it looks like when something went wrong (because I made it go wrong ):
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/5_quick_auto_bad.gif

Manual mode - An optional step that you will only use if the auto installer had some problems. It just lists the changes you need to do yourself:
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/6_quick_manual.gif

Text file - If you want to generate a text file with the full instructions to install the hack:
http://www.vbulletin.org/vbhacker/7_quick_text.gif

The style for my Admin CP was done by kier.

Well, hope you like what you see. I will start releasing my hacks with this installer soon, so you can see it in action. A script that creates these data files will probably come soon, so everyone will be able to use this for their own hacks.

Attached is the script, version 1.0.1.
Just upload it to your /admin folder, and you're done. Whenever you need to install a new hack just go to /admin/vbhacker.php in your browser.

[Smellycat]

I tried converting one of your old posts into a install.hack.php

this was the guest unable to view threads/ edit showthread.php

but it did not seem to be able to edit the files, did i do this right?

it fails and will only edit one occurance of the variable

Any ideas?

or did i just do this all wrong?

I was testing it with a simple example, just to se how it worked.

Thanks

[bitbender]

Take it from just another mainframe OS guy, burned out on assembler code, and years of maintenance application to operating systems(not unlike application of hacks, either).

This is a GREAT step towards easy application/regression of code!!

Most errors I have is from blinky eyed application, late at night!! Or that oft time when I convinced myself "I know it'll work, it's an EASY one!", and didnt take a backup (ok, rare, but I have my lapses)!!

Not that I will EVER stop reading code, either!! Now, with hackmaker and VBhacker I can really be FREE !!! :lick:

You folks do MORE than good a job !

[Jawelin]

Originally posted by Jawelin
[...] do you think it could be possible to put the vbhacker.php and all *.hack.php scripts in a stand-alone directory under the forum/admin/ ?
Also the backupped files could be put in forum/admin/vbhacks/backup, for instance.
This for clean reasons and this way a full hack history would be kept on the server...

Originally posted by FireFly
You can see a text version of the hack right in the beginning, just select "Generate text file" in that radio button.
And I'll think about having everything in its own folder.

If I used a custom directory below the admin folder, do you think it should be enough simply to add a '../' just before any file path reference within vbhacker.php ?
Of course, that dir itself should be moded to 777, shouldn it ?

Thank you very much.

Bye

[Mutt]

I have a wish list for the next version. Not that it needs anything because it's already great, but if you were looking for new features anyway

• put the .hack.php files in thier own dir (we'll leave them there instead of deleteing)
• have the script save your new hack as a .hack.php file in that same dir
• create a log of which hacks were installed and when
• put an unistall link next to each item in the log. the uninstall would run the install script backwards removing each component.
• add a comments field to the hack maker. this would be displayed to the user when they were installing the hack
• maybe add a discussion thread url field
• give the script an option to CHMOD 777 files before and CHMOD 644 after the hack install

I can't think of anything else. Definatly most important hack ever! Thanks again

[The Keeper]

vbHackmaker totally stuffed up my hack (put slashes all through it) causing errors. (see nuke hack thread)

[cditty]

How does this hack work with php3 extensions? All the references I see show php.

Chris

[Admin]

It doesn't, Chris.

[cditty]

bummer.

Chris

[Admin]

Do people still use PHP3? Wakey wakey.

[cditty]

No wakey wakey. Sleepy, sleepy.

I do because that is what I started with and my forum is now listed with google. If I change it to php, I loose all my google hits.

Correct? Or is there some hocus pokcus I can do to fix that?

Chris