Folks-

Okay, so this is a Noob question....

I've heard people here talk about three different kinds of customization: skins, mods & hacks. WHere does one level begin and the otherleave of--how are they different?

--don

Skins: change the appearance through template editing.
Hacks: Make existing features work differently or add custom stuff to pages.
Mods: Introduce new features not present in the 'stock' version, like games, etc.

Mods and hacks are the same thing really, we are using the word mod for hack now because many filters block sites like vBulletin.org because of the use of the words hack, hacking, and hacker.

'Skins' are generally called styles on vB sites, and they are ussally an entire package that will change the look of the forum globally.

Template mods are modifications that change the way one or more templates are designed. The will require modification to the templates by hand via the admin cp

'Hacks' or 'php modifications' are changes to the .php files (could also change the .js files aswell), these are the ones that void you of offical support.

You can also call those hacks 'Source code modifications', since that's what they do. And as said above, the word 'Style' is used to denote a full design customization using templates and graphics.

I prefer to call customized code or custom code -> source code modifications. (hacks)
I prefer to call customized templates or custom templates -> template modifications. (mods)
I prefer to call skins, themes, styles -> styles (styles)

I prefer to call those additional custom things all -> resources.

Wow--no wonder I'm confused. four replies, four somewhat different answers.

source code modifications, template modifications, styles, resources.

I like your terms the best--sound more like a business than a bunch of teens messing about with the computer <G>.

The only less-than-clear part is that "styles" (i.e. the "professional style" used here) can include template modifications as well as changes to the CSS.

--don