making an add-on that only uses info stored in the cpg database

[jhfotoman]

I hope this is the correct location for this; it seems the only logical place that is not locked down.

I am considering bypassing the Coppermine "theme" approach altogether and writing my own front-end code to access the data stored in the cpg database. This will allow considerable freedom from the somewhat restrictive and clumsy theme framework.

I'm not asking for support; just curious what people think...I can't see that it violates any license or even ethic...though I can easily imagine certain Devs being upset by this idea.

[Joachim Müller]

Coppermine is licensed under GNU GPL, so you're free to come up with modifications. Why should we be upset? The theme engine's core in use is 5 years old, so yes: there might be better alternatives. Branding it as being "clumsy" is a matter of taste though.
Back to your initial suggestion: only using the data stored in coppermine's database and not using the "wrapping" code is not a new idea in itself: that's what cpmFetch and a load of other mods is doing. Please go ahead. We'd love to see what you can come up with.