How to use CI and EE for the same project?

[eluser]Fabian Wesner[/eluser]
Hi,

i know that Codeigniter and ExpressionEngine are two different things, but wouldn't it be a fine thing to use both tools for one project.

Imagine a project like Ebay. You could use all the ExpressionEngine features like the member management system , the search module, the weblog module and so on to build the site. But then you must implement the auction. I don't think you can implement something like that with ExpressionEngine. You could write a new module but thats not what you want.

For the auction you need Codeigniter. Hence the question ist: How can we efficiently use ExpressionEngine and Codeigniter for the same project?

[eluser]david-csd[/eluser]
I was thinking the same thing myself. Expression Engine is a fine product but my comfort level in doing things outside of what EE offers easily (for example writing your own module) is just not there.

What I would like to do on some projects is integrate the user authentication system for EE for CI created auxiliary functionality. It would be helpful to know how to tap into that as well as integrate other aspects of EE (templating for example) into the CI implementation.

[eluser]Michael Wales[/eluser]
It's definitely possible - I was just working on a project that used SMF forums for it's authentication system and CI for everything else (unfortunately, all of my spare time has escaped me and I am unable to finish that project for the client).

[eluser]esra[/eluser]
This topic has come up before many times. You might try doing a forum search for ExpressionEngine or EE and read the various threads.

[eluser]Unknown[/eluser]
I'd like to "second" Fabian's original post. Does anyone have any comments or tips on using CodeIgniter and ExpressionEngine together? I followed esra's advice and searched on ExpressionEngine but did not find posts discussing how they could be used together.
Also interested in what david-csd posted - using EE's authentication system, and then using CI to write application code.
(i know about FreakAuth, but ...)

Thanks!
Topher

[eluser]esra[/eluser]
Well... I know there are some threads somewhere and will try to find these later tonight.

I believe there is a contribution on the wiki with 'dip it' or something like that in the name. It was designed to allow CI in conjunction with FreakAuth to be used from within Mambo, Joomla, and maybe other applications. It might be something to take a look at. I've never used it myself.

There is a gallery called Coppermine that features a bridge, allowing Coppermine to be integrated with other applications. It might be possible to adapt that basic concept to use with CI in conjunction with one of the Auth solutions.

[eluser]esra[/eluser]
Some other threads, but the last one doesn't really count:

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/60649/

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/51311/

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/45348/

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/49166/

You cannot do a two character search on these forums, so you cannot search on just EE. There are others, I'm sure.