I thought the basic reason for switching to Extensions was so that they don't "collide" with each other AND so they don't change core code? Perhaps it's the hooks that allow that, perhaps there's a bit more to it.
I'm not sure most MODs will be allowed, after 3.1 but maybe I misunderstood:
http://area51.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic ... 59#p257459
DavidIQ wrote:asinshesq wrote:Will we still allow modx style mods with validation?? Or will those be history (other than on hack sites)?
We are not planning on accepting MODs that require edits at this time. The hope is that if a MOD requires an event somewhere that doesn't have an event that the event request is made and that there are more frequent releases of phpBB to address the lack of events.
What this thread is about, however, is allowing MODs (extensions) and styles to be installed via the ACP, similar to how WP works and WP does work well. I don't know if the WP plugin/theme/update equivalent of the ACP uses hooks or some other SDK/API that their plugin/theme writers use but such a change to the ACP would have to go in 3.1 or later so it seems that this idea will be about Extensions not MODs although I guess it could include some MODs that don't edit core files. WP does allow manual uploading of plugins if the admin prefers, you can download a plugin to your HDD and search your drive for it in the WP ACP or you can search WP.com for the plugins that were accepted into their database right from the WP ACP. There's no reason a new phpBB ACP couldn't do the same.
So, like the OP, I think we *should* add a system (like the WP system or anything else that works as well) to add MOD and Style management, search, install, activation, deletion and manual uploading of Extenstions/MODs. Assuming I understood the OP correctly.