I have released a new version of ARF, which includes implementations of a Windows Live Authentication provider for SharePoint and an XML/XSLT implementation of SharePoint discussion forums. Both of these features are being used on the SPWorks website to provide the discussion forums for ARF.
You can now signup to the SPWorks site and ask question about the ARF framework. Signup is simple, just sign in with your LiveID and complete your profile. The profile on the site is completely separate to your LiveID profile allowing you to use a different email if you require.
SharePoint Live Authentication
Based on the CKS:WLA SharePoint provider by Keith Bunge, the provider allows you to use Live Authentication to authenticate with SharePoint. Once authenticated the user can be assigned to groups and acts like any other Forms based authentication on SharePoint.
Working slightly different to the CKS:WLA, the ARF provider directly uses the SiteUserInfoList to store the user details. This works well as there are no passwords to store and makes user management easier.
ARF Discussion Forums
ARF now provides classes which give you easy access to the standard SharePoint discussion forums. As with all things ARF you are provided with XML, allowing you to render the forums using XSLT.
There are classes which list available forums, threads within each forum and posts within each thread. All are controlled by query string parameters.
ARF also provides a form to allow users to create new discussions or reply to current ones. This form can work anonymously or can enforce login prior to submitting a response.
Demonstration, source and installs available
As always with ARF the source and WSP installs are available for download. You can also see both features available at the SPWorks website