Integration System

Would you guys like for the chat users table to be separate from the other system's user tables? In other words, instead of building all the chat fields into the existing database would you rather make another table and insert the required data from the other table into the chat table?

Existing table.

It seems like it would be a lot easier if they were all in one table. The user table should have a row for which system them signed up through though.

Last night I was tired, here's the reason I'm up for debate on this.

If it's in the existing table then I have to worry about the field names and stuff, not a huge issue just have to write

Code:

$this->user_info = array('id' => whatever_field_software_system_users, 'username' => same, 'avatar' => chat_avatar (instead of avatar) etc...);

Plus if they ever change systems they might get screwed because the additional fields aren't picked up by a script that would transfer data to the other system.

Now if we create chat_users regardless of the integration method then there's a better chance that you can drift from your existing system to a standalone or to another system with no issues. The chat_users table isn't holding any information from your system aside from id, it's used strictly as holding the info we need for the chat.

This is why I can't decide, one table is nice but in the long run separating them may not be a bad idea. Currently I have it setup to create the user in the chat table. That doesn't mean that that's how it has to be done from now on though.

On a positive note: xenforo is almost 100% done aside from creating the right auth string and getting the user color based on group.