free forum software

howdydoody

howdydoody

howdydoody

Permabanned
Joined
4 Nov 2007
Posts
180
Just wondering if you guys know of any decent free forum software?

In the process of building a web server to sit in the attic, main use will be file storage but wouldn't mind creating a forum to use for a mod I am working on instead of using the rubbish free one we are currently using.

Google throws up a few different ones but I think getting any decent reviews will prove difficult.
 
phpbb.com without a doubt.
The new 3.0 version is ace - loads of really nice features.
Fast, stable - what more could you want.
 
Have you people who are recommending phpBB actually used other forum software?

I find it odd that you mention it's features as one of it's selling points, as phpBB is one of the most featurless forums of all the 'big' boards. I admit phpBB is decent software, but it has a horrible ACP, and the only way I could get it to do what I wanted was to use a number of 'modifications' which add features that are standard on most other boards.

I've recently been playing with IPB and vB and even those have many flaws compared to SMF. Plus SMF will soon be releasing 2.0 which I can assure you will put it head and shoulders above phpBB (as if it wasn't already).

Also, the thing I really hate about phpBB is it's developers attitude. They seem to be very narrow-minded and don't want to listen to what end-users actually want. SMF on the other hand even has a forum on it's official site for people to suggest 'new features'.
 
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Although I agree the features aren't always there, and that you need to mod the software to get what your looking for, but I think its a nice little package for someone who's looking at setting up a forum for the first time.
 
seek said:
I've recently been playing with IPB and vB and even those have many flaws compared to SMF.
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Really? I'm finding vBulletin to be running rings around SMF at the moment.

To be fair though, SMF and TinyPortal are an awesome combo.

seek said:
Also, the thing I really hate about phpBB is it's developers attitude. They seem to be very narrow-minded and don't want to listen to what end-users actually want. SMF on the other hand even has a forum on it's official site for people to suggest 'new features'.
Click to expand...

Seconded. :)
 
WotDa said:
Really? I'm finding vBulletin to be running rings around SMF at the moment.
Click to expand...

How so? I find both to be very good, but SMF has the advantage of being free. I do like vB, but so far my testing hasn't really made me think it was especially worth paying for compared to SMF.

Although, having said that, I'm still considering using it on my latest site, as I really like the new profiles in version 3.7. I'm just wondering how the hell it's going to be possible to properly moderate the board though. The new stuff means not only will posts have to be moderated, but also profile comments, user albums and picture comments. Even on a relatively small site that is going to be tough on the mods.

To be fair though, SMF and TinyPortal are an awesome combo.
Click to expand...
vBadvanced is also a very good portal for vB.
http://www.vbadvanced.com/

SMF+TP and vB+vBa are both superb combo's for any community-based site.
 
seek said:
How so? I find both to be very good, but SMF has the advantage of being free. I do like vB, but so far my testing hasn't really made me think it was especially worth paying for compared to SMF.
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Perhaps it's just the myriad of options that make me think that, things that I'd need to install mods for in SMF are just there, waiting to be used in vB.

The options can become overwhelming though, permissions in particular, I much prefer the way that phpbb deals with these.

seek said:
vBadvanced is also a very good portal for vB.
http://www.vbadvanced.com/

SMF+TP and vB+vBa are both superb combo's for any community-based site.
Click to expand...

Yup, been giving it a bash too, had to mod the theme a little to sort the paths and fix a cookie problem, very much liking it. :)


I'm not so sure about the profile changes coming in 3.7 tbh, as you said, it places a lot of work on moderators and I'm not so sure if it's really a feature that belongs in 'forum' software.

Anyway, this thread isn't for discussing vB. :p
 
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