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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bigbluebutton.com/docs/llms.txt

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BNX (BigBlueButton BN Experience) is a foundational enhancement framework for BigBlueButton in Moodle. Rather than modifying Moodle core, BNX provides a layered extension architecture that improves usability, supports workflow customisation, and enables future innovation through a shared ecosystem of sidecars. BNX is available as a Moodle plugin at moodle.org/plugins/bbbext_bnx. BNX provides:
  • shared UX improvements across the activity interface
  • an extensible enhancement architecture via sidecars
  • advanced session management capabilities
  • workflow customisation without intrusive core modifications
  • shared infrastructure powering the BNX extension ecosystem
For the end-user activity interface changes introduced by BNX, see BigBlueButton activity view with BNX.

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PreSession lobby access

BNX replaces the traditional Wait for Moderator behaviour with a moderated PreSession Lobby. Instead of being blocked at the join page, participants can enter the lobby and wait for a moderator to approve access. Key aspects of the PreSession Lobby:
  • participants are admitted to a waiting state rather than refused entry
  • moderators review and approve access from within the session
  • the workflow improves session readiness and coordination
  • it removes the confusion caused by hard rejections in the core wait-for-moderator flow

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Enhanced recording experience

BNX replaces the legacy recordings table implementation with a modernised interface that scales better for activities with large recording collections. Improvements include:
  • searchable recordings table
  • improved pagination and row-count controls
  • inline editing for recording names and descriptions
  • consistent playback format presentation
  • better toolbar organisation and action clarity
For a full description of the recording interface, see BigBlueButton activity view with BNX.

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Integrated reminder management

Starting with BNX 1.1, the reminder functionality previously provided by the BN Reminders sidecar was consolidated into BNX. This gives administrators a single place to manage all reminder-related configuration. Capabilities include:
  • reminder scheduling tied to session dates
  • email content customisation
  • consolidated administration in the BNX activity settings

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Integrated lock settings controls

BNX 1.1 also absorbed the lock settings functionality previously managed by the bnx_locksettings sidecar. Lock controls available through BNX include:
  • webcam restrictions
  • microphone restrictions
  • chat controls
  • shared notes restrictions
  • lock-on-join behaviour

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Improved guest access workflow

BNX 1.0.1 introduced a dedicated guest access endpoint that replaces the Moodle core guest page in BNX contexts. Improvements include:
  • a dedicated guest.php endpoint with its own join form
  • a custom URL builder for guest links
  • improved logout and redirect handling after the session ends
  • a cleaner guest experience consistent with the rest of the BNX activity presentation

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Smarter default configuration handling

BNX 1.0.1 added support for auto-applied defaults that are managed centrally rather than depending on individual sidecar configurations. Benefits include:
  • reduced repetitive manual configuration when creating activities
  • consistent defaults applied across courses
  • defaults managed independently of sidecar installation state

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Developer and extensibility improvements

BNX provides a shared foundation for sidecar development within the BNX extension ecosystem. Developer-facing capabilities include:
  • shared debug helpers for BNX sidecars
  • reusable form customisation helpers for consistent mod form overrides
  • sidecar architecture support enabling modular capability extensions
  • improved maintainability through shared abstractions

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Release history

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BNX 1.1 — May 1, 2026

  • Migrated BN Reminders functionality and reminder data into BNX, consolidating reminder settings and email customisation into the core BNX experience (MD-90, MD-104).
  • Migrated lock settings controls from bnx_locksettings into BNX and absorbed the legacy sidecar configuration into BNX defaults (MD-107).
  • Refactored mod form header label overrides into a reusable helper to simplify BNX-driven form customisations (MD-100).
  • Added a shared developer debug helper for BNX sidecars.

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BNX 1.0.1 — April 1, 2026

  • Added a BNX-specific guest access endpoint (guest.php) with its own join form, URL builder, and logout redirect flow, replacing the core guest page in BNX contexts (GIT-1).
  • Hides BBB server setup instructions in the activity settings when credentials are pre-configured (MD-98).
  • Improved recordings table UX (MD-94).
  • Added support for auto-set default settings decoupled from sidecars (MD-95, MD-97).

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BNX 1.0 — March 11, 2026

  • First stable open-source release of bbbext_bnx.
  • Introduced the BNX Framework: BigBlueButton BN Experience is a foundational UX enhancement extension for BigBlueButton in Moodle, featuring moderator approval workflows and shared capabilities that power the BNX extension family.
  • Added PreSession Lobby access, replacing the Wait for Moderator flow.
  • Delivered an enhanced recording experience by improving the room recordings table and ensuring recording features work end-to-end.