On password protected forums...

[Elsensee]

On my quest to (apparently) slim phpBB so it's much easier to maintain (for developers) and handle (for administrators) (as seen here in the ACP UX Improvements topic), I came across password protected forums.

Just as for the ACP UX Improvements I don't want to do anything to any features in a minor version. Don't panic.
I'm basically just thinking about hanakin's topic on phpBB.com about the new style titled Chameleon:

We are reimagining what a forum is at the individual component level.

To me, a password protected forum (PPF) is a component as well; a component that is not modern anymore. It's a relict from old versions of phpBB. If you want to properly protect a forum, use permissions. Passwords for PPF's can just be handed to somebody else, thus you should consider it unprotected, thus you don't need a password. Easy as that.

That's why I'm voting for removing this feature in one of the next major versions. PPF's would be converted to normal forums that only founders can access on upgrade.

What do you think?

[DavidIQ]

+1
Can be relegated to an extension if anything.

[Senky]

I can imagine there are users who use this. I have heard of boards that are kind of a game which you solve by reading hints in the topics which reveal passwords to new forums where you can find more hints. But yeah, definitely an extension (maybe official one since we don't want to discontinue a feature without providing a proper fallback?).

[Ger]

By all means, ditch it. I can't remember any board using it in the past decade, except Area51 of course.

-edit-
Just peeked in that yogurt forum, it's full of topics from 2003 where people are voting for removing that feature. Might be time to just do it.

[Solidjeuh]

I'm maintaining a few forums, and non of them are using PPF.
I also agree that it should be done with permissions.
So yeah, remove it. We wont miss it.

[JimA]

Such a niche feature, I'm definitely for ditching it as well in favour of simplicity.

[v12mike]

One interesting question, after upgrade to a version of phpBB not supporting passworded forums, what will happen to existing passworded forums?

[david63]

One interesting question, after upgrade to a version of phpBB not supporting passworded forums, what will happen to existing passworded forums?

PPF's would be converted to normal forums that only founders can access on upgrade.

I would also add that if there are any PPF's then the future would be to use permissions/groups and that could all be in place at any time (i.e. now) and just removing the passwords would not make any difference.

[Deactivated 140246]

Question: What's the verdict on this? Will this feature be removed?

I agree with the others on how pointless this feature is.