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Best forum software?

ghall

ghall

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 27, 2006
3,771
1
Rhode Island
I'm working on a website for a school project and I need to know what kind of forum software is the best to use. I can't decide between PHPBB or Simple Machines. Also, is there anything better? (preferably free)

And yes I want to host the forums on my own webspace. I've researched how to do it, I just don't know which one to go with.
 
ghall said:
I'm working on a website for a school project and I need to know what kind of forum software is the best to use. I can't decide between PHPBB or Simple Machines. Also, is there anything better? (preferably free)

And yes I want to host the forums on my own webspace. I've researched how to do it, I just don't know which one to go with.
Click to expand...

vBulletin is the best (same as used here) but it is not free.
 
vBulletin is out of my price range, so I decided to go with phpBB. How can change it so that it matched with the rest of my website?
 
You can download themes/skins for phpbb. Here is a link to get you started. Also, do a search on google for phpbb skins. Once you choose one that has the layout style you like, you can alter the graphics to match your color scheme. Just make sure the author of the skin you download doesn't have a problem with alterations. Good luck.
 
Okay, I switched to Simple Machines Forums because phpBB was really starting to get on my nerves (setting permissions was overly-complicated).
So yeah, I want to get the tabs that are on the top of the rest of the website onto the forum page. Any ideas?
 
Well, my suggestion would be to find a simple template (at least in the past, SMF's classic template was pretty good for this), then go in and edit the topmost section to add whatever sort of menu you use to it. You can of course do this to more involved templates, but the simpler the template the easier it usually is to figure out where you want to add stuff.

Alternately you could go the old-school route and just use a frameset, with a small top (or side) frame holding your site navigation, and the main frame with the forum. This of course has issues, but in a pinch (or as a temporary solution while you work out templating), it can work.
 
Makosuke said:
Well, my suggestion would be to find a simple template (at least in the past, SMF's classic template was pretty good for this), then go in and edit the topmost section to add whatever sort of menu you use to it. You can of course do this to more involved templates, but the simpler the template the easier it usually is to figure out where you want to add stuff.

Alternately you could go the old-school route and just use a frameset, with a small top (or side) frame holding your site navigation, and the main frame with the forum. This of course has issues, but in a pinch (or as a temporary solution while you work out templating), it can work.
Click to expand...

OK, so I did what you said, and after a little playing around I got this. Thoughts?
 
I prefer IP.Board (formerly IPB). This isn't free, but as said above the older versions (IPB v1.3) was released for free.. just not sure how to get hold of it.

The free forum sites use IPB v1.3.

If you really want to host your own and not pay, I'd got for phpBB... looooaaads of modifications for it.
 
phpBB is just wwaaaaay to buggy and easily exploitable.

punBB isn't bad, but vBulletin is the spiffingist. ;)
 
If you're running FREE software - you can expect to be hacked.

I've experienced this with pretty much every FREE forum software that exists.

vBulletin is by FAR the best; and most secure. I've utilized vB on my sites for the last 10 years; and wouldn't use anything else.

As far as look - that's all easily skinned (either custom or purchased).

Note that vB 3.7 just launched; and is absolutely fantastic...moving most everything to AJAX so takes the load off the server.

If you're planning to be serious with your forum - then start with vB now - as I promise you it's MUCH easier then trying to port the databases over to vB later once you've been exploited, etc.

~ Aloha ~
 
phpBB is highly popular simply because of the huge user base, large library of modifications and enhancements and it's free.
VBulletin is also quite popular paid software too, with mods available.
Demo : free forums
 
vBulliten is indeed the best in my opinion but alas it's not free. I used phpBB a few years ago on my site and I really liked it. Plus it's free.
 
May I say that vBulletin sucks compared to IPB? Just give each a run, and then come back. IPB 3.0 is HEAVEN. But vB is cheaper, so it might be more widely spread...
 
Not Available said:
May I say that vBulletin sucks compared to IPB? Just give each a run, and then come back. IPB 3.0 is HEAVEN. But vB is cheaper, so it might be more widely spread...
Click to expand...

I hate IPB. In my opinion from a user not an admin PHPBB is better. I can hardly find the submit button in IPB.
 
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