Spaces Engine for BuddyBoss: The Events Calendar Integration & Custom Tabs in Beta

When it comes to a business directory for BuddyBoss, Spaces Engine is definitely our weapon of choice. And this after we had extensively tested the two fiercest competitors with the Directorist and GeoDirectory plugins. However, these did not fit our use case or were difficult to adapt to our needs. With the new custom tabs feature, however, Spaces Engine will soon allow you to create a true business directory powered by the BuddyBoss theme. In addition, they announced the Events Calendar integration in beta and an upcoming price increase!

New (Beta) Features

• New Spaces Index Layout
  Following the recent release of advanced filters and ACF integration, Spaces Engine has also changed the layout of the Spaces index page, making room for three columns of Spaces cards and filters on the left. This was achieved by increasing the layout width to 1400px.
• The Events Calendar Integration
  Spaces Engine now also integrates with The Events Calendar Pro, which has just been released in version 6.0, and its Community Events add-on. Spaces aka businesses can become an event organizer and add their own events to the WordPress calendar. They are then displayed in a new “Events” tab in each Space. There is also a new “Create” tab that contains the public form for submitting events. The integration even works with the free version of the Events Calendar, but with limited features.
• Native Custom Tabs
  They also added a new custom global tabs feature, where you can place shortcodes from third-party plugins. Please note that for the time being only shortcodes are supported, no HTML or other code formats! You can add your WooCommerce store or products as well as SureCart products (aka the new WooCommerce alternative) and GiveWP donations for example.
• For Developers & Advanced Users
  They have also enabled a new HOOK/API for creating new custom tabs. This allows you to place anything you want as content for a custom tab.

As always, beta versions should not be used on live sites, but only in staging environments.

Spaces Engine customers have immediate access to this beta version. You are not a customer yet? Then get your Spaces Engine licence now and take your BuddyBoss community to the next level!

What’s Next?

After finally releasing above features, the folks at Spaces Engine will start working on native WP Job Manager, WC Vendors and Gamipress integrations. They will also improve the Spaces index page by showing much more information on the Spaces cards, including ratings and category as well as a preview modal.

They will also add geofencing and geolocation with proximity and “Near me” features powered by the Google API and Mapbox.

With regard to a continued sustainable, growing business, they are adjusting pricing and removing lifetime licenses shortly. Grab a Spaces Engine LTD while you can!