I’ve gotten a stream of e-mails asking how I’ve been able to integrate WordPress and bbPress to share a single user database. For those that are unfamiliar, WordPress powers Kineda’s blog while bbPress powers Kineda’s Lookbook (a highly customized WordPress/bbPress install).
Integrating WordPress and bbPress so that your blog can have a forum is quite easy. Documentation on how to do so is quite scarce though, so I decided to share my experience on connecting the two platforms in three simple steps.
Step 1: Be sure you’re using the latest versions of WordPress and bbPress. If not, download and upgrade before continuing.
Step 2: To have bbPress share user data from your existing WordPress installation, go into the “Wordpress Integration” panel of the “Settings” area in your bbPress admin dashboard. Fill out the cookies and user database sections completely. It’s important that the WordPress database secret key in the bbPress settings matches the secret key in your WordPress install. 99% of integrations fail because the secret keys don’t match.
Step 3: With all the information filled, bbPress will be able to generate the best cookie settings needed for WordPress. Add the auto generated code to your WordPress wp-config.php file.
Your registered members will now be able to traverse your blog and forum without having to sign in twice. Voila!
Not too into the technical side of what you did but it turned out great. :)
I didn’t realize that you used bbPress for the lookbook. It’s a sick use for it Terry. NICE! :)
Very handy Terry. Do you have any recommendations or links for using the bbpress interface for users to login/register instead of the Wordpress admin once they’re integrated?
There’s a couple of ways to integrate the logins. Since the user database as well as the cookies are being shared, you can use either of the login panels for users to login/register. They both accomplish the same thing.
What you will need to do though is to be sure that any login links in your WordPress themes point to the bbPress login page. To see of an example of the bbPress login page, click on the “Add a Look” link without being logged in to the Lookbook.
Ahh, that’s easy. Thanks Terry.
[...] frustrated and discouraged if they have to login once to your blog and then again to your forum. An easy guide on how to integrate bbPress and WordPress can be found on [...]
[...] frustrated and discouraged if they have to login once to your blog and then again to your forum. An easy guide on how to integrate bbPress and WordPress can be found on [...]
hey man great site.. soooo custom! you got deep into it. I have my WP and BB db’s synced fine.. Im just trying to get the themes to work with each other.. you have any advice for where to start customizing the theme to include WP functions??? holla at me! graham
check it out so far
http://www.djvibe.com/content/
[...] frustrated and discouraged if they have to login once to your blog and then again to your forum. An easy guide on how to integrate bbPress and WordPress can be found on [...]
I am struggling with integrating bbpress with wordpress. I have wp 2.5.1 and the latest version of bbpress. To integrate the two, are the steps outlined in your post the ONLY things you had to do? Thanks in advance!
I was wondering how you get a similar sized thumbnail for each article on the main page. Is it a plugin?
I was able to integrate my wp with bbpress…thanks so much for your documentation.
I have a reply for this post:
Posted by edwinvanolst
August 5, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
I was wondering how you get a similar sized thumbnail for each article on the main page. Is it a plugin?
If you will go to http://code.google.com/p/the-m.....tomisation you will see how to use the custom fields for the tma theme. Good Luck!
[...] frustrated and discouraged if they have to login once to your blog and then again to your forum. An easy guide on how to integrate bbPress and WordPress can be found on [...]
[...] who needs that buggy bbpress, this plugin is brilliant… Saved by kulaju8 on Wed 24-9-2008 How to Integrate WordPress and bbPress in 3 Simple Steps Saved by bbelcourt on Tue 23-9-2008 Another Overhaul? Saved by riiview on Sat 20-9-2008 [...]
Terry
I followed the exact steps, but now my wordpress site is no longer working. I get the following error
“Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /home/plastid5/public_html/wp-config.php on line 68″
I’ve replaced the new wp-conig.php file with the old one and even that is not making any difference. any suggestions?
[...] How to Integrate WordPress and bbPress in 3 Simple Steps [...]
[...] How to Integrate WordPress and bbPress in 3 Simple Steps ยป Kineda (tags: bbpress wordpress tutorial howto) [...]