I’m sharing my work done so far w/ a BuddyPress plugin i built over Memorial Day weekend: BuddyPress Community Activate

Inspired by community sites like Forrst (although I think they have changed how this works since their original implantation), this plugin is designed to allow users access to the site only when activated by already existing community members. So a typical user goes to register and confirm their account, but has to await ‘activation’ by someone already a member. Think of this as turning a site into an ‘exclusive community’. Users who are already members can access a dedicated ‘wait list’ page to choose who to let in. Also users are limited as to how many they can activate (currently two, eventually controllable via an admin panel).

Although the basic purpose of the plugin should work (at least it does in my setup), it’s nowhere near done. Although i’ve built and modified many WordPress and BuddyPress plugins in the past they have all been exclusively for clients and never released to the pubic, so i’m VERY self conscious about this particular action. So why i’m I sharing now?

Simple: Following the “just launch it” mantra! This plugin isn’t meant to be used in production, but I want serious feedback from other BuddyPress plugin developers how to what mistakes I made (I’m sure I made alot) and how the current code can be improved. Although suggestions on added features are welcome, they aren’t really what i’m looking for this time around.

So I welcome your suggestions. Two things: (1) Keep in mind this was tested and confirmed in lastest WordPress 3.2 beta and BuddyPress 1.2.8 although it should work with 3.1.x and BuddyPress 1.2.7. (2) This work is provided AS-IS with no support or guarantees, and exists as a v0.1 solely for the purpose of fun/education.

Download it here from my blog:
http://www.davidbisset.com/2011/05/30/buddypress-plugin-community-activate-v0-1-0/

[@lph2005 Participant 13 years, 7 months ago]

Interesting concept. Thank you for sharing.

[@bowromir Participant 13 years, 7 months ago]

I love this concept and I think it can work very well for certain communities.. In fact I might be able to use it in a upcoming project I’ll give it a test spin this week!

[@dimensionmedia Participant 13 years, 7 months ago]

Thanks, although note I don’t think this is ready for production. However if someone wants to test and improve it and share, i’m all ears.

[@johnjamesjacoby Keymaster 13 years, 6 months ago]

Looks neat. You should get it into WP Extend and leverage the BP support forums.

If you want to do that, let me know and we can make it happen.

[@dimensionmedia Participant 13 years, 6 months ago]

@johnjamesjacoby, would love to find out how. Would be honored to make this step, especially since i’m working on the next update.

[@dimensionmedia Participant 13 years, 6 months ago]

Guys, fyi – i have updated the plugin. New control panel added plus a bug fix.

More information on my blog here:
http://www.davidbisset.com/2011/06/12/buddypress-plugin-%E2%80%93-community-activate-v0-2-0/