http://cibonfire.com/ I really like the concept, but find it wayyy too buggy . For instance the hybrid login module (login with google/facebook) etc, just broke my install with some random error. Is there anything else like bonfire in the php world ?
Haven't looked at the code, but if this is in any way meant to work, I'm assuming it's not a "random error" but actually something which tells you what went wrong. That said, this seems to me like a bundle on top of another bundle on top of PHP - which, most likely, will make it even slower than normal. Running a semi-framework on top of another framework like CI doesn't make much sense to me - I'm sure what Bonfire offers is enticing, but again, it does what most frameworks do - offers solutions for a plentitude of options you don't need. When someone creates a framework that's completely bare-bones with the option to add different modules as you need them, then maybe, and just maybe, I'll start using frameworks. If not, it's easier and you have more control by just adding and coding stuff yourself as you need it. If you create flexible structures, you can usually reuse something you've already coded for the same project when you need another page or function, and hence it doesn't have to take that much time.
while not completely barebones, theoretically most modules except 2 can be removed in bonfire and modules can be added. This is what attracted me to bonfire. For instance the hybrid module can be just dropped in to any project. Anyhow I found something more barebones that just might do it for my requirements: http://phprbac.net , its not a frameowrk and I am not looking for one either, but just a pre built users, roles etc library