BuddyPress is compatible with all of the WordPress Default Themes. This section will provide you with step-by-step tutorials to make all your BuddyPress pages conform with the layout you want using child themes.
TIL buddypress theme compatibility only plays nicely if the theme has been going with references to get_template_part e.g.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_template_part
[28/05/2013 4:35:25 PM] Bronson Quick: we have a client who didn't have budget and wants to use an existing theme and i couldn't work out why theme compatibility wouldn't generate permalinks properly
[28/05/2013 4:35:30 PM] Bronson Quick: turns out that was the reason
"Load a template part into a template (other than header, sidebar, footer). Makes it easy for a theme to reuse sections of code and an easy way for child themes to replace sections of their parent theme.
Includes the named template part for a theme or if a name is specified then a specialized part will be included. If the theme contains no {slug}.php file then no template will be included.
"
The base templates that BP looks for in order of priority are:
plugin-buddypress.php
buddypress.php
community.php
generic.php
page.php
single.php
index.php
If you are on a single group page, BuddyPress will use the following template hierarchy:
If you are on a single member page, BuddyPress will use the following template hierarchy: