Best open source forum software

What is the best open source(free) forum software ?

-rahman15
http://www.everydayarticles.com/

 

phpBB

but like with ALL software and scripts you got to stay on top of the security updates

to see what can be done with such a forum look at mine:
http://etek.netcomhost.net

vBulletin is good also, their is a free verison you can use. For a new user vBulletin would be better for its Out of the box use. The get phpBB setup really nice you got to hire a designer (like me <Shameless Plug) to MOD the @#%$ out of it. Or do-it-yourself vBulletin has most of what you need to get going....

 

That is incorrect. There is no free version of vBulletin.

 

I say the best open source and free is SMF...phpBB used to be the best, but the phpBB developing team has slowed to a halt...SMF already has more features than phpBB out of the box, is developing faster than phpBB, and is more secure than phpBB...

The only thing phpBB has going for it, imo, is a large mod/support community.

 

Here is the link for SimpleMachinesForum

 

Yes you are right.... my bad... I was thinking about InvisionBoard. You can install InvisionBoard from my host, and there is a free lic for InvisionBoard. Not Vb

 

You're wrong there too. IPB can no longer be downloaded and installed for free, anywhere other than a place such as InvisionFree (or somewhere where the forums are hosted all under one domain)...If you download a 1.x or 2.x copy anywhere today (including the trial version), you are not doing so legally...Only legal way to do it is to get it from IPS themselves

If your host is offering it through their cPanel, they need to update cPanel, because they aren't allowed to offer IPB

 

You know what!!? To the pit with them all!! The only thing I know for sure that is GPL Opensoure <that's most likely wrong too) Is phpBB. The large MOD support makes it right for ME.

 

haha, didn't mean to step on your toes. I will say that you were correct with your last statement though regarding GPL and the large mod support community

 

Their are many factors in using a product. The main factor for me is development time. I perfer using a package because I know that package. I have been working with phpBB for so long I know how to make it dance. If something goes wrong I know how if fix it, where the bugs are. I know what file does what.... and I know to extend. Having a large MOD base saves me untold coding hours.. That is bottom line. I'm not into brand loyalty.

 

I'm gonna have to say SMF.

 

You might want to check out UltimaBB. Its a top-notch fork of XMB by a phenominal coder. You can PM me for more info, since I have some dealings with them that are forthcoming.

 

I'm starting to like PunBB.. SMF is also pretty good!

 

talking about open source forums, is phpbb open source???

 

I like both Vanilla and Punbb.

MiniBB is great also.

 

SMF got my vote..

 

Everyone has difference choices, but it appears that phpbb is most popular. I still think, however, that vbulletin has the best user layout (hence all the big forums use it (DigitalPoint cough cough)).

What do you guys think?

 

The problem with your suggestion is not that VB isn't any good, but that VB's not open source/free.

I've used both phpBB and SMF, leaning towards SMF. Just a bit simpler to configure and manage.

 

Simple Machines Forum is the best coz you can install mods without any knowledge...

 

I'm a big fan of using phpBB if you cannot purchase a vbulletin license. phpbb v3 is looking really nice and competes good with vbulletin in some respects.