There are many great applications available out there on the web, which can help you in building a website and does exactly what you need it to. However, problems arise when it comes to linking the multiple pieces of software, in order to give your site an integrated feel and to make it easier for your users to access the content they need.

Traditionally, the solution has been to apply a hack to the software which will give you integration, but it poses issues when attempting to upgrade your software and can lead you down the path of spending many nights trying to fix your site.

Now, there’s a new solution with none of the problems of using a hack and its name is JFusion.

What is JFusion?

JFusion is a revolutionary new universal integration framework for Joomla 1.5. It’s a “universal bridge” that can synchronize user accounts, user sessions and even visually integrate many different applications into Joomla. This is done by extending the Joomla 1.5 user authentication framework without any core hacks. Now you can turn your Joomla installation into a powerful portal system that manages your user base across all your online applications. JFusion is just another example on why Joomla is the future of Content Management Systems.

How did the JFusion project start?

"Necessity is the mother of all inventions." This famous quote by Plato applies to many projects including JFusion. The JFusion project was founded by Marius van Rijnsoever, who needed multiple software bridges for his Joomla websites. Frustrated that only one bridge could be used at the same time and that some bridges even required core hacks, he decided to create a revolutionary new integration framework for Joomla. Because JFusion is open-source, free and GPL licensed, JFusion has grown from a single-man-show to a large JFusion team with over 10 people spending most of their free time on this project. Ohlol estimates that it would have cost 200.000+ dollars to develop and take 4+ person years if this was a commercial project (https://www.ohloh.net/p/jfusion/). With the power of the GPL license and a massive community effort you can download and use JFusion for free.

What features does JFusion offer to users?

JFusion provides universal user integration by extending the Joomla 1.5 user authentication framework without any core hacks. A single installation package automatically installs all needed items; component, modules, and plugins. The installation wizard can auto-detect your software settings. A version checker shows you when a new JFusion version is released and allows you to upgrade with a single mouse click. Multiple password hash types are supported, which means JFusion works great with converted boards. The usersync tools can import and export users into Joomla and the extensive error checking functions allow you to easily manage user conflicts between applications. No core hacks are made to either Joomla or the integrated apps, which means you can upgrade your software normally without reconfiguring JFusion.The possibilities are endless, whether you want to link multiple Joomla installations or integrate forum applications into your Joomla website. Bundled with visual integration, you can make the external software feel like it's a part of Joomla and not just another piece of software. How does a Joomla login work with JFusion enabled?

JFusion does its magic with the use of its JFusion user and authentication plugins. When multiple apps are integrated there needs to be a ‘master’ application that controls all user management, such as user registration. When a user logs in to Joomla, JFusion will validate the user based on the user details in the master application. If a user is successfully authenticated, JFusion will automatically create or update the user in all of the slave software applications. Emails, activation status, and banned status can all be updated by JFusion between apps. Sessions will also be created for all JFusion plugins, in order for users to be logged into all apps with a single Joomla login.

Why use JFusion instead of writing your own bridge?

Writing a Joomla bridge has never been this easy. The revolutionary JFusion framework allows you to create an advanced bridge with minimal effort. A JFusion plugin can be written that contains basic code to retrieve user information and put it into a format that JFusion can recognise. JFusion can use this plugin to integrate the users of both applications and even visually integrate the two sites. As more features are added to the JFusion framework, all different plugin applications can benefit from these enhancements. Isn’t that great?

What does the future hold for JFusion? JFusion has deeply benefited from the Joomla! community which has supported the project by providing code writers, documenters, donators or simply the end users who test the code and give back their feedbacks.

The upcoming release of JFusion i.e. 1.1.2 Beta shall incorporate even more features such as short SEF urls using the standard Joomla SEF system, one-click phpbb3 authentication mod install, plugin, even better server performance, revamped activity module for usage of this module by non-forum apps and many more features. It will also support additional software such as gallery2 (development by Christopher Pinkl), DokuWiki (development by Morten Hundevad ), and Flyspray (development by Chris Simon).This, in addition to the other development work by Henk Wevers, Alan Hartless and Marius van Rijnsoever. James Bream is our support specialist on the forums and Imran Ali is the manager of JFusion. Our documentation team (Mark Bender and Christopher Downs) are working hard on keeping the documentation up to date with the fast development pace.

It is only anybody’s guess as to where the project goes from here. But looking at the present level where it stands, the only way to go is up; something that the JFusion team is not just committed to but is looking forward to as well.

So much history and promise and you are still staring at the Computer screen?! Hurry up and visit the website to be a part of the JFusion community.