Extending Forms in JomSocial 1.8

While we work day and night to finish up the upcoming JomSocial 1.8, I would like to take a moment to introduce a new API which is extremely handy for plugin developers.

What we just added to JomSocial 1.8, is the ability for JomSocial plugin to intercept the rendering of any form and inject their own HTML code into the form. Perhaps it would be best if I explain this visually.

This is what a typical new photo album creation looks like

With a plugin, it is rather easy to inject, say a check box options such as the one below.

See how I just added a new radio button and some code within the form. All this are done within a plugin without touching any of the template files!

Of course, to compliment this new  API, plugin will also be able to perform its own validation, and if necessary stop the form from being validated and proceeding to the next page. Pretty neat huh :-)