Forum Software

[lobsterninja]

So I need to set up a forum, but I'm not sure which software to use. I've always gone with PHPBB, but this time around I've decided to check out other software. I've decided to go with one of four different software packages:

PHPBB
Simple Machines Forum
Invision Power Board
vBulletin

What do you guys suggest?

[ghell]

afaik vbulletin and ipb aren't free, and phpbb3 is very good BUT still only beta at the moment.

[Jeroentje]

www.php-fusion.co.uk is a very good one

phpbb is free and pretty good but it takes some security requirements (populair forums happen to have alot of exploits (hacks))

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

I've recently discovered fully modded phpbb.
http://phpbbfm.net/
Essentially its phpbb with a lot of mods already done for you.

[lobsterninja]

afaik vbulletin and ipb aren't free, and phpbb3 is very good BUT still only beta at the moment.

Oh wow, you're right, I had no idea. Guess that narrows down the decision a little bit :P

[nexosis]

Smf = ownage
phpbb = nub

there's nothing in the world like smf i'm not joking...
it's even free of charge...

[ghell]

Personally I don't think SMF (the forum system not the Twisted Sister song) is that great, its always a little bit behind on the features and is generally a pain to use. It seems to be about the quality of thousands of other similar but unpopular systems, for example YAF (yet another forum, which is probably the name of at least 5 forum systems), snitz, toast, etc.

phpbb3 has some very very nice features but its still in beta 5 at the moment so I don't know when it will be ready. nexosis if you haven't tried phpbb3 (it has a lot more features than version 2) you should try it. Unless you have some kind of bias to SMF (as indicated by your post) then trying phpbb3 would probably change your mind.

[infotechweb]

there is no real competition when it comes to forum software, PHPBB offers indefinantly the easiest way to create a forum, using basic security requirements that allow the administrator to have full control of the forum.

PHPBB FTW!!






___________________________________________________________________
Need more information on Web Design, Networking and Graphics or any other related computer issue? Email us at infotechweb@gmail.com you are guarenteed an answer within 24 hours.

[nolvorite]

Vbulletin
pros: vbulletin 3.5+ are favoured because of the reputation system.
cons: the only forum software that requires payment and without a hosting package. :mad:

IPB
pros: nice graphics/styles
cons: Database file size easily gets bigger.

SMF
pros: A lot of bbcodes.
cons: Not totally customizable.

Phpbb (2)
pros: Totally quick customization
cons: Very easily hacked by people.

[ghell]

I still don't see where all these security holes forum systems such as phpbb come from, it's so easy to stop attacks such as sql injection by using prepared statements (or whatever php calls them) and encrypt cookies and whatnot. :confused:

[Len Whistler]

www.phorum.org is another very good forum board.

[firepages]

FUDforum (http://fudforum.org/forum/) is far far better than it actually looks