Add-On Releases - AJAX Spy

Introduction:
This script (addon) was developed to give your forums a new nice feature by allowing readers/contributors to have a live spy monitor they can use to watch latest forums activity. This script is supposed to be much faster and more reliable than those variants that place database hooks to watch for changes. The script works without even needing to connect to any database and relies totally on your RSS feeds already generated by the forums.

Please be gentle, our first module. Should work with all versions of vBulletin that provide RSS feeds, which I think is all of them

Installation:
Please follow all instructions carefully and back up and files modified.
1- Uploading Files
Within the folder this document is contained, a folder named "Upload" should be present Open this folder and upload the following files to the corresponding locations. Please notice that no files will be replaced.

The /tmp folder included MUST be CHMODed to 755 OR 777 because the spy script needs to write data into that folder. The data there is auto deleted so there is actually nothing you need to worry about. For your information, the data store3d there is a copy of the latest RSS feeds and is used as a simple caching system to lower the loads on the server when 10K users for example have the spy script open and monitoring.

2- Setting System Environment
In your browser (Internet Explorer/Mozilla etc..)
Go to this url: http://YOURSITE.COM/admincp/install_vbspy.php
[You will need to change the capitals within this url to meet your site's domain and forum location]

Follow the file through each step, if step 1 was configured correctly no errors should occur when running this file. Once finished you will be prompted to delete 2 specific file's, YOU MUST DO THIS.

3- Integrating The System
In your forums admin cp, go to the following destination:
Styles & Templates -> Style Manager -> Edit Templates -> Expand All

Templates:
Find the template 'navbar'
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
FIND:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="calendar.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[calendar]</a></td>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
UNDERNEATH ADD:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="vbSpy.php?$session[sessionurl]">vbSPY</a></td>
::: Save Template 'navbar'

Author Notices:
While i have been coding for long, this is still my first product dedicated to the vBulleting community. If you are familiar with vBulletin codes and think you know a better way to perform some task, please let me know by leaving a comment at the codeMoxie website available at www.codeMoxie.net

Official Support:
This product is fully supported by CodeMoxie, please visit our newly released forums for more info http://www.codemoxie.net/forum

Demo
http://www.prousers.net/vBSpy.php

Release History
Version 1.21b RC1 - September 19, Initial release on vBulletin
Version 1.21b RC1 - September 22, several bug fixes.

Examples:


!#================================================ #!
Enjoy!
Keep checking http://www.codeMoxie.net for more cool products
!#================================================ #!

[lexx27]

Thank you for the answer. I will test it in action

[Snake]

Thanks for this!

[SpadMan]

UNDERNEATH ADD:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="vbSPY.php?$session[sessionurl]">vbSPY</a></td>
::: Save Template 'navbar'

File name is wrong in the instructions. Should read "vBSpy.php" to match the file provided in the ZIP.

[ForumDog]

Each variation of the Digg Spy has it's advantages. The feed-pulling one obviously is nice and simple and will work across a broad range of feeds with no work necessary, plus the reasonable amount of future-proofing against upgrades. On the other hand, the database one can easily be taken above and beyond a feed's fairly limited capbilities to pull more information from your forum should you want it to.

Win win, just pick the one that suits you best.

[codemoxie]

Originally Posted by SpadMan

File name is wrong in the instructions. Should read "vBSpy.php" to match the file provided in the ZIP.

Fixed Thank you.

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by codemoxie

This script is supposed to be much faster and more reliable than those variants that place database hooks to watch for changes. The script works without even needing to connect to any database and relies totally on your RSS feeds already generated by the forums.

For your information, the data store3d there is a copy of the latest RSS feeds and is used as a simple caching system to lower the loads on the server when 10K users for example have the spy script open and monitoring.

Just to clarify, external.php calls global.php and cache or no-cache there is a pratical limit to just how many clients any solution can handle. It is virtually impossible for any server to support 10,000 clients calling external.php repeatedly.

Additionally, the script wouldn't work without a database connection on the backend; it would just sit there and never display anything.

Originally Posted by ForumDog

Each variation of the Digg Spy has it's advantages.

No doubt about it; but let's at least be hoenst about how we represent each solution. Overblown and unsupported claims of security issues or performance advantages are a disservice to the members here and other developers.

[codemoxie]

MPDev - aren't you the creator of the other digg style tool? Seems a poor way to interact with the community by bashing competing scripts.

[MPDev]

I'm not bashing your script; I'm taking exception to the claims you have made that disparage other solutions. Just be honest and drop the overblown and unsupported claims regarding other solutions.

[codemoxie]

Originally Posted by MPDev

I'm not bashing your script; I'm taking exception to the claims you have made that disparage other solutions. Just be honest and drop the overblown and unsupported claims regarding other solutions.

From post 1 you have been bashing this script and others see it. There are no 'claims' as you mention, this script pulls from the RSS feed, period. People know the advantages and disadvantages to that. For you to start off with bashing it is a very poor way of handling yourself. Certainly that's not something I or any professional would do with your script and you have made your dislike clear so why do you continue to bash the script and show yourself like this? I wouldn't do that to your script. The script uses RSS feeds, that's what it is and developers here are smart enough to understand the advantages and disadvantages to that.

[MPDev]

Take from it what you will; my points are still valid. Technically I wasn't bashing your script (having neither downloaded it or seen an example link); I was taking exception to your unsupported and generic statements regarding "other solutions" and the "benefits" of your system which are inaccurate.