Pligg Vs Drigg A Comparison By Free Software Magazine

Pligg vs Drigg is a question thats commonly asked in social news circles, Tony Mobily the creator for the Drigg for Drupal project yesterday wrote and article titled “How do Drigg and Pligg compare?“. If you haven’t read Tony’s article already and you are thinking of starting or already own a social news site it’s worth a look and raises some great points although we do disagree with one of them, sort of…

Overall Tony got things spot on in his article when comparing pligg to drigg on core elements of both systems, there were a few things i have to playfully disagree with though.

Theming

  • Drigg: Uses Drupal’s PHPTemplate. A theme is made up of 4 basic files (plus CSS) which will be always completely independent from the program’s logic.
  • Pligg: Has its own templating system, with a huge “but!”. Templates hold amazing amounts of logic. The code sometimes will change its logic according to the theme (!). Security fixes often require changing the templates.

Theming for Pligg and Social Web CMS isn’t as hard as has been made out in the past, tony is correct about logic there is a lot of it although most is Smarty Template Engine (TemplateLite) Calls. Editing a pligg or Social CMS template however also only requires 4 template files plus the CSS file virtually the same as Drigg. Both Pligg and Drigg use theme engines with PHPTemplate being Drupals and Smarty Template Engine (TemplateLite) being pliggs, if your brand new to creating templates for either system both will prove just as challenging to learn.

Pligg / Social Web CMS FIles Needed To Edit Template

  1. pligg.tpl – This is like the index container page.
  2. header.tpl- sites header content.
  3. footer.tpl – sites footer content.
  4. link_summary.tpl -  submitted story link box layout with title, description, vote, etc.
  5. main.css – css for whole site.

Tony also mentions in his article a few things about pliggs forum support and censorship behavior of late with deleting forum threads etc, again all are valid points about pliggs overall attitude and behavior. We also noticed the standard Pligg Fanboi comment on Tony’s article that we have seen popping up on so many articles here at Social CMS Buzz.

Visit: Drigg

Visit: Social Web CMS

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Article Details

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Author: Lincoln on August 18th, 2008

Category: Web News

Tags: , , , , , , ,

  1. Tony Mobily says:

    Hi,

    Thank you for linking to me. I think we’ll have to agree do disagree here! Please let me explain why I have some doubts… although they might not be justified.

    Taking Pligg’s yget — only the files you mentioned:

    [root@sys113 yget]# wc -l pligg.tpl header.tpl footer.tpl link_summary.tpl
    85 pligg.tpl
    139 header.tpl
    9 footer.tpl
    240 link_summary.tpl
    473 total
    [root@sys113 yget]#
    (that’s 473 lines in total)

    Taking drigg’s stock theme, the “important” files:

    wc node-drigg.tpl.php block.tpl.php box.tpl.php page.tpl.php
    87 281 2675 node-drigg.tpl.php
    8 32 304 block.tpl.php
    8 22 179 box.tpl.php
    121 350 3625 page.tpl.php
    224 685 6783 total
    (That’s 224 lines in total)

    How, when you create a template, do you prefer this:

    HTML Snippet Messed Up

    Or this:

    HTML Snippet Messed Up

    OK, I admit they can look as bad as each other. But most people know a bit of PHP and Drigg does is call standard Drigg and Drupal calls…

    BUT!

    My point, is that in the end a Drigg theme, including _everything_, is:

    IMPORTANT ONES:
    ./page.tpl.php
    ./node-drigg.tpl.php
    ./comment.tpl.php
    ./block.tpl.php
    ./style.css

    HARDLY TOUCHED:
    ./box.tpl.php
    ./node.tpl.php
    ./node-forum.tpl.php
    ./template.php

    IMAGES:
    ./favicon.ico
    ./img
    ./img/block_menu_leaf.gif
    ./img/header_submitbtn.gif
    ./img/block_scorebg_upcoming.gif
    ./img/block_scorebg_published.gif
    ./img/whovoted_down.gif
    ./img/header_categoriesbg.gif
    ./img/block_menu_expanded.gif
    ./img/whovoted_up.gif
    ./img/block_feedicon.gif
    ./img/header_searchbtn.gif
    ./img/header_titlebg.gif
    ./img/header_logo.gif
    ./img/block_menu_collapsed.gif
    ./img/header_loginbtn.gif

    CSS:
    ./css
    ./css/misc.css
    ./css/blocks.css
    ./css/print.css
    ./css/base.css
    ./css/nodes.css

    In Pligg it’s a very different picture:

    MAIN ONES:
    ./pligg.tpl
    ./header.tpl
    ./footer.tpl
    ./link_summary.tpl
    ./main.css

    “OTHER” ONES:
    ./sidebar_comments_wrapper.tpl
    ./footer.tpl
    ./sidebar_stories.tpl
    ./submit_errors.tpl
    ./sidebar_stories_wrapper.tpl
    ./live_js.tpl
    ./upcoming_center.tpl
    ./comment_show.tpl
    ./tag_cloud_center.tpl
    ./login_center.tpl
    ./template_details.php
    ./topusers_center.tpl
    ./submit_step_1.tpl
    ./live_comments_center.tpl
    ./profile_center.tpl
    ./sidebar.tpl
    ./story_center.tpl
    ./link_summary.tpl
    ./css
    ./css/iehfix.htc
    ./css/iepngfix.htc
    ./css/star_rating
    ./css/star_rating/alt_star.gif
    ./css/star_rating/star.css
    ./css/ie6.css
    ./css/main.css
    ./blank.tpl
    ./editlink_edit_center.tpl
    ./submit_step_3.tpl
    ./live_center.tpl
    ./settemplate_center.tpl
    ./submit_step_2.tpl
    ./live_published_center.tpl
    ./index_center.tpl
    ./comment_form.tpl
    ./live_unpublished_center.tpl
    ./topusers_data.tpl
    ./sidebar_comments.tpl
    ./recommend_small.tpl
    ./header.tpl
    ./register_step_1.tpl
    ./pligg.tpl
    ./validation.tpl
    ./submit_extra_fields.tpl
    ./user_center.tpl
    ./register_center.tpl
    ./edit_comment_center.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules
    ./sidebar_modules/sidebar_stories.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/wrapper.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/sidebar_stories_u.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/login.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/tags.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/about_box.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/sidebar_comments.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/wrapper2.tpl
    ./sidebar_modules/categories.tpl
    ./images
    ./images/user_delete.png
    ./images/bg-r.png
    ./images/formula_delete.png
    ./images/manage_backup.png
    ./images/yahoomyweb.png
    ./images/story_tab2.png
    ./images/body_bg.gif
    ./images/feed_add.png
    ./images/backup_remove.png
    ./images/add.gif
    ./images/comment_yellow.gif
    ./images/friends2.png
    ./images/user_add.png
    ./images/user_comments.png
    ./images/cart.png
    ./images/content_wrap_e_bg.gif
    ./images/user_killspam.png
    ./images/template_edit.png
    ./images/friends.png
    ./images/19de38d03fe7db3b5a64386eb392320b.gif
    ./images/feed_go.png
    ./images/vote-l.png
    ./images/save_link.png
    ./images/user_search.png
    ./images/blank.gif
    ./images/nav-l.png
    ./images/feed_delete.png
    ./images/nav-r.png
    ./images/formula_enable.png
    ./images/nav.png
    ./images/backup_db.png
    ./images/expand.png
    ./images/vote.png
    ./images/headbar.png
    ./images/comment.png
    ./images/tabrB2.png
    ./images/exp_down.png
    ./images/manage_lang.png
    ./images/digg.png
    ./images/story_tab.png
    ./images/backup_avatars.png
    ./images/paypal.gif
    ./images/exp_on.png
    ./images/feed_bullet.png
    ./images/manage_cat.png
    ./images/featurebox_h.png
    ./images/formula_add.png
    ./images/manage_mods.png
    ./images/user_disable.png
    ./images/green_check.gif
    ./images/rss.gif
    ./images/content_wrap_bg.gif
    ./images/backup_files.png
    ./images/manage_rss.png
    ./images/formula_disable.png
    ./images/formula_edit.png
    ./images/pligg.png
    ./images/user_links.png
    ./images/featurebox_bg.png
    ./images/news_manage.png
    ./images/user_message.png
    ./images/user_edit.png
    ./images/navbar.png
    ./images/page.gif
    ./images/icon-stumbleupon.gif
    ./images/manage_formulas.png
    ./images/new_cat.png
    ./images/delicious.png
    ./images/email.png
    ./images/help.png
    ./images/user_reset.png
    ./images/bg.png
    ./images/tableftB.png
    ./images/bg-l.png
    ./images/manage_config.png
    ./images/more.png
    ./images/error.png
    ./images/reddit.gif
    ./images/simpy.png
    ./images/manage_user.png
    ./images/vote_count.png
    ./images/tablB2.png
    ./images/tabrightB.png
    ./search_center.tpl

    AND THE MODULES’ ONES:
    modules/embed_videos/templates/link_summary_pre_story_content.tpl
    modules/admin_language/templates/admin_language_main.tpl
    modules/admin_language/templates/admin_language_admin_link.tpl
    modules/admin_language/templates/admin_language_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/admin_formulas/templates/admin_formulas_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/admin_formulas/templates/admin_formulas_admin_link.tpl
    modules/admin_formulas/templates/blank.tpl
    modules/admin_formulas/templates/admin_formulas_main.tpl
    modules/agree_to_terms/templates/show_agree.tpl
    modules/thickbox/templates/pligg_pre_title.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/reCaptcha/captcha_configure.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/reCaptcha/captcha.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/WhiteHat/captcha_configure.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/WhiteHat/captcha.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/math/captcha_configure.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/math/captcha.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/default/captcha_configure.tpl
    modules/captcha/captchas/default/captcha.tpl
    modules/captcha/templates/captcha_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/captcha/templates/captcha_configure.tpl
    modules/captcha/templates/show_register_captcha.tpl
    modules/captcha/templates/captcha_home.tpl
    modules/sidebar_stats/templates/sidebar_stats.tpl
    modules/random_story/templates/random_story.tpl
    modules/version_check/templates/version_check_above_center.tpl
    modules/send_announcement/templates/sendannouncement_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/send_announcement/templates/sendannouncement.tpl
    modules/users_extra_fields/templates/admin_user_show_center_fields.tpl
    modules/users_extra_fields/templates/admin_user_edit_center_fields.tpl
    modules/users_extra_fields/templates/profile_center_fields.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/manageSpam.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/akismet_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/spam_link_in_menu.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/manageKey.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/manageSettings.tpl
    modules/akismet/templates/main.tpl
    modules/lightbox/templates/lightbox_footer.tpl
    modules/lightbox/templates/pligg_pre_title.tpl
    modules/ajaxcontact/templates/ajaxcontact.tpl
    modules/image_upload/templates/submission_form_addition.tpl
    modules/share_revenue/templates/admin_modules_top.tpl
    modules/share_revenue/templates/show_ads.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/template_management_admin_link.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/template_management_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/template_management_viewonline.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/template_management_main.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/blank.tpl
    modules/template_management/templates/template_details.tpl
    modules/page_statistics/templates/page_statistics.tpl
    modules/ypn_share/templates/admin_modules_top.tpl
    modules/ypn_share/templates/show_ads.tpl
    modules/simple_messaging/templates/error.tpl
    modules/simple_messaging/templates/inbox_link_in_menu.tpl
    modules/simple_messaging/templates/inbox.tpl
    modules/simple_messaging/templates/show_message.tpl
    modules/simple_messaging/templates/compose.tpl
    modules/submit_antispam/templates/submit_error.tpl
    modules/submit_antispam/templates/submit_info.tpl
    modules/admin_totals/templates/admin_totals_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/admin_totals/templates/admin_totals_admin_link.tpl
    modules/admin_totals/templates/blank.tpl
    modules/admin_totals/templates/admin_totals_main.tpl
    modules/rss_import/templates/rss_import_admin_main_link.tpl
    modules/rss_import/templates/admin_rss_center.tpl
    modules/rss_import/templates/admin_rss_center2.tpl
    modules/rss_import/templates/import_fields_center.tpl
    modules/rss_import/templates/rss_import_admin_link.tpl

    All this reside in Pligg’s main directory, which makes it very hard to upgrade without losing bits and pieces, whereas Drigg systems have the theme in a separate directory to the Drupal install.

    Also, in Drigg you never, ever need to change your theme after an upgrade. However, I have seen in Pligg’s SVN that some new features were implemented… *in* the theme (!). (This was back in August 2007…)

    I am making these points because I have *used* Pligg for more than 6 months, and found that we had modified several tpl files around — I had become so good at juggling “diff -r” commands, that I thought I’d get a call from Cirque du Soleil!

    Again, I am biased. But I need some really convincing argument to be convinced that Pligg’s templating system isn’t very broken!

    Bye,

    Merc.

  2. Tony Mobily says:

    Hi,

    Wooops… please note that the PHP code which was meant to be an example of Drigg’s templating system got eaten up by some hungry script :-D

    Merc.

  3. Lincoln says:

    haha no problems Tony, i really need to place no HTML or PHP to be posted :p

    I agree with you that there are a lot of files with pligg if you include modules etc and it would take a really long time if you were going to edit all of them. My main focus was the fact in most cases when editing a pligg template you can easily do it by only editing the files i mentioned, in turn making the process fairly un-complicated.

    Sidebar templates are a pain for sure as are module templates especially if you want to build a complicated theme. Most other files however appear in the content area and can usually be styled with fieldset and label CSS although it is very limited and as Tony pointed out there are so many of them to edit if you really wanted to customize form layouts etc.

    Maybe down the development line pligg will change the Smarty System as i for one would love a better solution. With the current problems at Pligg i don’t see a new template engine being the big priority right now, although i am sure they would gladly take donations or chip-in funding to implement one courtesy of the new coder they hired a month or so ago to perform the security fixes.

    Drigg On! ;)

  4. yankidank says:

    why yankidank has not fired chuchroast is beyond comprehension

  5. I use both Drigg and Pligg in my 2 sites, I will compare it lather.

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