OK, I'm thinking of making my first extension... whilst I have only modded php scripts before, what I want to do is just integrate an existing small script into vanilla.
The only thing I want the extension to do is create a (css-formattable) text line which reads "There are (whatever) days left to (whateveryouwant)". Ideally it should be possible to edit the event time and the description from within Vanilla. But that's just a bonus (I'll be happy with manual editing)
Well you can include that into the panel really easily (look at the docs) - for being able to edit it is when you need to start digging deeper - but docs and other extensions should give you a reasonable idea. I'm afraid I'm not much help beyond that at the mo though. I really need to familiarise myself over summer.
Where did you want to put it? I advise against putting something somewhere you dont want it and moving it somewhere else. There are ways to put stuff in other areas of the forums.
@mini: my forum is at http://www.tools.web.surftown.se/storaa/forum/ (excuse the Swedish) I have made an adapted style to the Vanilla theme, which already moves stuff around in strange ways...
btw: the Lussomo copyright thing is hidden under a css overflow constraint. I of course plan to put it back! (the style is being reworked, it has a few glitches in Firefox)
I wanted to put it on the top (above the header image) on the right. That is, outside the panel div. In fact, I'm placing the Lussomo note outside the panel to, but with the help of CSS.