diff --git a/phpBB/includes/extension/controller_interface.php b/phpBB/includes/extension/controller_interface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bcc8972db4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/phpBB/includes/extension/controller_interface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+/**
+*
+* @package extension
+* @copyright (c) 2011 phpBB Group
+* @license http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License v2
+*
+*/
+
+/**
+* @ignore
+*/
+if (!defined('IN_PHPBB'))
+{
+	exit;
+}
+
+/**
+* The interface that extension classes have to implement to run front pages
+*
+* @package extension
+*/
+interface phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+{
+	/**
+	* handle the request to display a page from an extension
+	*
+	* @return	null
+	*/
+	public function handle();
+}
diff --git a/phpBB/includes/extension/manager.php b/phpBB/includes/extension/manager.php
index dac0e5f947..537c19aff8 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/extension/manager.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/extension/manager.php
@@ -432,6 +432,28 @@ class phpbb_extension_manager
 		}
 		return $disabled;
 	}
+	
+	/**
+	* Check to see if a given extension is available on the filesystem
+	*
+	* @param string $name Extension name to check NOTE: Can be user input
+	* @return bool Depending on whether or not the extension is available
+	*/
+	public function available($name)
+	{
+		return file_exists($this->get_extension_path($name, true));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check to see if a given extension is enabled
+	*
+	* @param string $name Extension name to check
+	* @return bool Depending on whether or not the extension is enabled
+	*/
+	public function enabled($name)
+	{
+		return isset($this->extensions[$name]) && $this->extensions[$name]['ext_active'];
+	}
 
 	/**
 	* Instantiates a phpbb_extension_finder.
diff --git a/phpBB/index.php b/phpBB/index.php
index f1243bb336..d71878a885 100644
--- a/phpBB/index.php
+++ b/phpBB/index.php
@@ -24,6 +24,39 @@ $user->session_begin();
 $auth->acl($user->data);
 $user->setup('viewforum');
 
+// Handle the display of extension front pages
+if ($ext = $request->variable('ext', ''))
+{
+	$class = 'phpbb_ext_' . str_replace('/', '_', $ext) . '_controller';
+
+	if (!$phpbb_extension_manager->available($ext))
+	{
+		send_status_line(404, 'Not Found');
+		trigger_error($user->lang('EXTENSION_DOES_NOT_EXIST', $ext));	
+	}
+	else if (!$phpbb_extension_manager->enabled($ext))
+	{
+		send_status_line(404, 'Not Found');
+		trigger_error($user->lang('EXTENSION_DISABLED', $ext));
+	}
+	else if (!class_exists($class))
+	{
+		send_status_line(404, 'Not Found');
+		trigger_error($user->lang('EXTENSION_CONTROLLER_MISSING', $ext));
+	}
+
+	$controller = new $class;
+
+	if (!($controller instanceof phpbb_extension_controller_interface))
+	{
+		send_status_line(500, 'Internal Server Error');
+		trigger_error($user->lang('EXTENSION_CLASS_WRONG_TYPE', $class));
+	}
+
+	$controller->handle();
+	exit_handler();
+}
+
 display_forums('', $config['load_moderators']);
 
 $order_legend = ($config['legend_sort_groupname']) ? 'group_name' : 'group_legend';
diff --git a/phpBB/language/en/common.php b/phpBB/language/en/common.php
index 7741ff8d1f..94edddc6f5 100644
--- a/phpBB/language/en/common.php
+++ b/phpBB/language/en/common.php
@@ -185,7 +185,11 @@ $lang = array_merge($lang, array(
 	'ERR_WRONG_PATH_TO_PHPBB'			=> 'The phpBB path specified appears to be invalid.',
 	'EXPAND_VIEW'						=> 'Expand view',
 	'EXTENSION'							=> 'Extension',
+	'EXTENSION_CONTROLLER_MISSING'		=> 'The extension <strong>%s</strong> is missing a controller class and cannot be accessed through the front-end.',
+	'EXTENSION_CLASS_WRONG_TYPE'		=> 'The extension controller class <strong>%s</strong> is not an instance of the phpbb_extension_controller_interface.',
+	'EXTENSION_DISABLED'				=> 'The extension <strong>%s</strong> is not enabled.',
 	'EXTENSION_DISABLED_AFTER_POSTING'	=> 'The extension <strong>%s</strong> has been deactivated and can no longer be displayed.',
+	'EXTENSION_DOES_NOT_EXIST'			=> 'The extension <strong>%s</strong> does not exist.',
 
 	'FAQ'					=> 'FAQ',
 	'FAQ_EXPLAIN'			=> 'Frequently Asked Questions',
diff --git a/tests/functional/extension_controller_test.php b/tests/functional/extension_controller_test.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4ee0e68718
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/extension_controller_test.php
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+<?php
+/**
+*
+* @package testing
+* @copyright (c) 2011 phpBB Group
+* @license http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GNU General Public License v2
+*
+*/
+
+/**
+* @group functional
+*/
+class phpbb_functional_extension_controller_test extends phpbb_functional_test_case
+{
+	protected $phpbb_extension_manager;
+	/**
+	* This should only be called once before the tests are run.
+	* This is used to copy the fixtures to the phpBB install
+	*/
+	static public function setUpBeforeClass()
+	{
+		global $phpbb_root_path;
+		parent::setUpBeforeClass();
+
+		// these directories need to be created before the files can be copied
+		$directories = array(
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/class/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/classtype/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/disabled/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foo/bar/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foo/bar/styles/prosilver/template/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foobar/',
+			$phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foobar/styles/prosilver/template/',
+		);
+
+		foreach ($directories as $dir)
+		{
+			if (!is_dir($dir))
+			{
+				mkdir($dir, 0777, true);
+			}
+		}
+
+		$fixtures = array(
+			'error/class/controller.php',
+			'error/class/ext.php',
+			'error/classtype/controller.php',
+			'error/classtype/ext.php',
+			'error/disabled/controller.php',
+			'error/disabled/ext.php',
+			'foo/bar/controller.php',
+			'foo/bar/ext.php',
+			'foo/bar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html',
+			'foobar/controller.php',
+			'foobar/ext.php',
+			'foobar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html',
+		);
+
+		foreach ($fixtures as $fixture)
+		{
+			if (!copy("tests/functional/fixtures/ext/$fixture", "{$phpbb_root_path}ext/$fixture"))
+			{
+				echo 'Could not copy file ' . $fixture;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	public static function tearDownAfterClass()
+	{
+		$phpbb_root_path = self::$config['phpbb_functional_path'];
+
+		// @todo delete the fixtures from the $phpbb_root_path board
+		// Note that it might be best to find a public domain function
+		// and port it into here instead of writing it from scratch
+	}
+
+	public function setUp()
+	{
+		parent::setUp();
+
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager = $this->get_extension_manager();
+
+		$this->purge_cache();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check an extension at ./ext/foobar/ which should have the class
+	* phpbb_ext_foobar_controller
+	*/
+	public function test_foobar()
+	{
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->enable('foobar');
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=foobar');
+		$this->assertContains("This is for testing purposes.", $crawler->filter('#page-body')->text());
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->purge('foobar');
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check an extension at ./ext/foo/bar/ which should have the class
+	* phpbb_ext_foo_bar_controller
+	*/
+	public function test_foo_bar()
+	{
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->enable('foo/bar');
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=foo/bar');
+		$this->assertContains("This is for testing purposes.", $crawler->filter('#page-body')->text());
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->purge('foo/bar');
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check the error produced by extension at ./ext/error/class which has class
+	* phpbb_ext_foobar_controller
+	*/
+	public function test_error_class_name()
+	{
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->enable('error/class');
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=error/class');
+		$this->assertContains("The extension error/class is missing a controller class and cannot be accessed through the front-end.", $crawler->filter('#message')->text());
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->purge('error/class');
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check the error produced by extension at ./ext/error/classtype which has class
+	* phpbb_ext_error_classtype_controller but does not implement phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+	*/
+	public function test_error_class_type()
+	{
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->enable('error/classtype');
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=error/classtype');
+		$this->assertContains("The extension controller class phpbb_ext_error_classtype_controller is not an instance of the phpbb_extension_controller_interface.", $crawler->filter('#message')->text());
+		$this->phpbb_extension_manager->purge('error/classtype');
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check the error produced by extension at ./ext/error/disabled that is (obviously)
+	* a disabled extension
+	*/
+	public function test_error_ext_disabled()
+	{
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=error/disabled');
+		$this->assertContains("The extension error/disabled is not enabled", $crawler->filter('#message')->text());
+	}
+
+	/**
+	* Check the error produced by extension at ./ext/error/404 that is (obviously)
+	* not existant
+	*/
+	public function test_error_ext_missing()
+	{
+		$crawler = $this->request('GET', 'index.php?ext=error/404');
+		$this->assertContains("The extension error/404 does not exist.", $crawler->filter('#message')->text());
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/controller.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/controller.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eb2ae362a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/controller.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_foobar_controller implements phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+{
+	public function handle()
+	{
+		global $template;
+		$template->set_ext_dir_prefix($phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/class/');
+
+		$template->set_filenames(array(
+			'body' => 'index_body.html'
+		));
+
+		page_header('Test extension');
+		page_footer();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/ext.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/ext.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f97ad2b838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/class/ext.php
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_error_class_ext extends phpbb_extension_base
+{
+	
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/controller.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/controller.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2276548b55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/controller.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_error_classtype_controller
+{
+	public function handle()
+	{
+		global $template;
+		$template->set_ext_dir_prefix($phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/classtype/');
+
+		$template->set_filenames(array(
+			'body' => 'index_body.html'
+		));
+
+		page_header('Test extension');
+		page_footer();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/ext.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/ext.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..35b1cd15a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/classtype/ext.php
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_error_classtype_ext extends phpbb_extension_base
+{
+	
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/controller.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/controller.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b83a949020
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/controller.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_error_disabled_controller implements phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+{
+	public function handle()
+	{
+		global $template;
+		$template->set_ext_dir_prefix($phpbb_root_path . 'ext/error/disabled/');
+
+		$template->set_filenames(array(
+			'body' => 'index_body.html'
+		));
+
+		page_header('Test extension');
+		page_footer();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/ext.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/ext.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aec8051848
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/error/disabled/ext.php
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_error_disabled_ext extends phpbb_extension_base
+{
+	
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/controller.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/controller.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..24d218c412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/controller.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_foo_bar_controller implements phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+{
+	public function handle()
+	{
+		global $template;
+		$template->set_ext_dir_prefix($phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foo/bar/');
+
+		$template->set_filenames(array(
+			'body' => 'foobar_body.html'
+		));
+
+		page_header('Test extension');
+		page_footer();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/ext.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/ext.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a2068631e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/ext.php
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_foo_bar_ext extends phpbb_extension_base
+{
+	
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4addf2666f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foo/bar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<!-- INCLUDE overall_header.html -->
+
+<div id="welcome">This is for testing purposes.</div>
+
+<!-- INCLUDE overall_footer.html -->
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/controller.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/controller.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bf8d8139ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/controller.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_foobar_controller implements phpbb_extension_controller_interface
+{
+	public function handle()
+	{
+		global $template;
+		$template->set_ext_dir_prefix($phpbb_root_path . 'ext/foobar/');
+
+		$template->set_filenames(array(
+			'body' => 'foobar_body.html'
+		));
+
+		page_header('Test extension');
+		page_footer();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/ext.php b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/ext.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7cf443d369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/ext.php
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<?php
+
+class phpbb_ext_foobar_ext extends phpbb_extension_base
+{
+
+}
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4addf2666f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/ext/foobar/styles/prosilver/template/foobar_body.html
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<!-- INCLUDE overall_header.html -->
+
+<div id="welcome">This is for testing purposes.</div>
+
+<!-- INCLUDE overall_footer.html -->
diff --git a/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php b/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
index b5e6f7e377..69c62af297 100644
--- a/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
+++ b/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ class phpbb_functional_test_case extends phpbb_test_case
 	protected $client;
 	protected $root_url;
 
+	protected $cache = null;
+	protected $db = null;
+	protected $extension_manager = null;
+
 	static protected $config = array();
 	static protected $already_installed = false;
 
@@ -66,6 +70,60 @@ class phpbb_functional_test_case extends phpbb_test_case
 		}
 	}
 
+	protected function get_db()
+	{
+		global $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx;
+		// so we don't reopen an open connection
+		if (!($this->db instanceof dbal))
+		{
+			if (!class_exists('dbal_' . self::$config['dbms']))
+			{
+				include($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/db/' . self::$config['dbms'] . ".$phpEx");
+			}
+			$sql_db = 'dbal_' . self::$config['dbms'];
+			$this->db = new $sql_db();
+			$this->db->sql_connect(self::$config['dbhost'], self::$config['dbuser'], self::$config['dbpasswd'], self::$config['dbname'], self::$config['dbport']);
+		}
+		return $this->db;
+	}
+
+	protected function get_cache_driver()
+	{
+		if (!$this->cache)
+		{
+			$this->cache = new phpbb_cache_driver_file;
+		}
+
+		return $this->cache;
+	}
+
+	protected function purge_cache()
+	{
+		$cache = $this->get_cache_driver();
+
+		$cache->purge();
+		$cache->unload();
+		$cache->load();
+	}
+
+	protected function get_extension_manager()
+	{
+		global $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx;
+
+		if (!$this->extension_manager)
+		{
+			$this->extension_manager = new phpbb_extension_manager(
+				$this->get_db(),
+				self::$config['table_prefix'] . 'ext',
+				$phpbb_root_path,
+				".$phpEx",
+				$this->get_cache_driver()
+			);
+		}
+
+		return $this->extension_manager;
+	}
+
 	protected function install_board()
 	{
 		global $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx;