Writing my first plug-in/product, several newbie questions.

[harmor19]

Well first let's start off with a simple plugin so you know the basics.
Let's create a plugin that'll display an easter egg if you type in "index.php?chris777"

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<product productid="chris777_easteregg" active="1">
	<title>Easter Egg</title>
	<description>Will show an easter egg</description>
	<version>1.0.0</version>
	<codes>
	</codes>
	<templates>
	</templates>
	<plugins>
		<plugin active="1">
			<title>Easter Egg</title>
			<hookname>forumhome_complete</hookname>
			<phpcode><![CDATA[ 
if($_REQUEST['do'] == "chris777")
{
  $easter_egg = "Easter Egg Here";
}
]]>
</phpcode>
		</plugin>
	</plugins>
	<phrases>
	</phrases>
	<options>
	</options>
</product>

Edit FORUMHOME
Above $header
Add $easter_egg<br /><br />

Let's take a closer look of why it works.

PHP Code:

if($_REQUEST['do'] == "chris777")
{
  $easter_egg = "Easter Egg Here";
} 


When you visit "index.php?do=chris777" the variable is initiated (I guess that's the word) thus outputting the text at the top of the board.
The reason why you assign the text to a variable is so you can place it into a template, otherwise the text doesn't know where to go, I suppose.

I'm sorry but I'm not good at explaining how things work.