creating MODS

[jmellors]

when i open a .xml file in a text editor i get this source

'<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
- <product productid="seperate-forumcats" active="1">
<title>Seperate Forum Categories</title>
<description>This mod adds a space between each forum category</description>
<version>1.0.1</version>
<url>https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=123713</url>
+ <versioncheckurl>
- <![CDATA[ https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/misc.php?...rsion&t=123713
]]>
</versioncheckurl>
<dependencies />
- <codes>
- <code version="1.0.0">
<installcode />
<uninstallcode />
</code>
</codes>
- <templates>
- <template name="forumhome_seperate_forumcats" templatetype="template" date="1153277020" username="Jelle" version="3.6.0">
- <![CDATA[
</table>
<br />
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<thead>
<tr align="center">
<td class="thead">&nbsp;</td>
<td class="thead" width="100%" align="$stylevar[left]">$vbphrase[forum]</td>
<td class="thead" width="175">$vbphrase[last_post]</td>
<td class="thead">$vbphrase[threads]</td>
<td class="thead">$vbphrase[posts]</td>
<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">
<td class="thead">$vbphrase[moderator]</td>
</if>
</tr>
</thead>

]]>
</template>
</templates>
- <plugins>
- <plugin active="1" executionorder="5">
<title>Seperate ForumCats: Cache template</title>
<hookname>cache_templates</hookname>
- <phpcode>
- <![CDATA[
if (THIS_SCRIPT === index)
{
$globaltemplates = array_merge($globaltemplates, array('forumhome_seperate_forumcats'));
}

]]>
</phpcode>
</plugin>
- <plugin active="1" executionorder="5">
<title>Seperate ForumCats: Add the seperate template</title>
<hookname>forumbit_display</hookname>
- <phpcode>
- <![CDATA[
if (!isset($catcounter))
{
$catcounter = 0;
}

if (($tempext == '_nopost') AND ($catcounter >= 1))
{
eval('$forumbits .= "' . fetch_template("forumhome_seperate_forumcats") . '";');
}

$catcounter++;

]]>
</phpcode>
</plugin>
</plugins>
<phrases />
<options />
<helptopics />
<cronentries />
<faqentries />
</product>'

can anyone explain me through it abit as i'd love to create my own chat MOD. =]
I have very good experience at HTML and i'm very enthusiastic about learning what i'd need to do to make a vb mod.

many thanks,,
Joe.