What's your favourite free forum software. Mine's Mybb and in order I would put Mybb>>PhpBB>>CosmicBoards>>SMF.
phpBB. Simple where it count, powerful where it matters. Version 3.0.x is extremely secure, and runs lightly. What I like the most is how easy it is to build a site around, as it provides a great framework for doing so.
It took them years to even add quick reply, RSS Import, and the list goes on. MyBB/SMF, and even anyone else had it since version 1.0. Definitely phpBB is not the choice when they're still in the file edit days. Interesting CosmicBoards is mentioned though, it's promising, but I don't think it's there yet, but Cosmic's very progressive nonetheless.
It doesn't matter how long it took them, the fact now is that they have it. For me it's phpBB/MyBB and I don't like the others, although ive been watching cosmicboard's progress and it has been going steadily.
phpBB is supposed to be very effective and good. The other forum software are also good. It is hard to pick the best.
My vote goes to MyBB. I have this open source and quality feeling around this project. I decided to go with MyBB two months ago on GIMP Forums and couldn't be happier, it's a pleasant experience to use it.
I prefer MyBB mainly because: - Very easy to customize. - Really user friendly, AJAX powered and feature-rich by default. - Support team is very good. - Lots of plugin and a very clean plugin interface. Really easy to make plugins. - Good spanish translations. - It looks great, it remembers me to the good vBulletin - GPL ! this guarantees that Internet Brands will not destroy it. I only recommend MyBB, and I have used SMF, MyBB, PunBB, bbpress, vBulletin. For my MyBB is the best by far.
Through all of my years of foruming and experimenting with different forum softwares, I'm going to have to say phpBB. If you know what you're doing, then it's the most customizable software out there. It's extremely flexible and powerful.