phpBB VS SMF VS MyBB

Yeah I for one would not suggest phpbb for many things such as quick reply, moderation, ect... MyBB and SMF are the top quality softwares (imho)

Theres things you would benefit better for each software. Up to the user to choose what software suits there needs better. The worst thing to ever do is constantly convert your software to another software you feel is better. I have seen communities come and go.

No need to flame over what software is better - its up to the user. There all fine imo.

 

Yes it did, some members don't want anyone saying something negative about their favorite software, which is kinda of silly since this thread is suppose to be about pros and cons of different forum software.

Some of my favorite forums that I frequent use IPB software, however, I wasn't so lucky. I had a IPB forum that I had just purchased from another DP member and before I had a backup, it was hacked and destroyed. Lost all the 150k posts and 6,000 members. That was a sad day for me.

That's why I say if I were to buy a forum software, it'd be vB. They seem to be more secure.

That is a huge + for SMF too, they seem to be very secure (as long as you keep it updated).

Also, SMF does have some cool community mods, i.e. profile community mod and highly customizable. I made my own little hack to have an internal myspace type system going on. My users love it.

 

I was wrong that Mybb didn't fix this in 1.4x. It is resolved. My forums have so many new posts I just hadn't double checked it. So it is working properly now. lol...that's what happens when you spend so long used to a bug.

Oh and haven't seen this mentioned yet but Mybb is now GNU/GPL licensed. And very recently KDE.org has decided to use mybb for it's support forum.

 

I like MyBB...

 

Mybb 1.4 is the best out right now. Even though it just recently came out. The team releases updates frequently. Its very easy to install. Its has everything you need out of the box. It runs FAST!!! Its easy on servers and rarely gets spam attacks. Especially with the Akismet program. I love how easy it is to create themes on it. Mods are install by a couple of clicks. Mods are rarely needed. I just use the ajax shoutbox plugin for my forums.

SMF is great but out of date. It needs a makeover. lol

PHBB has crappy security and is just plain ugly.

 

Guys just tell us which one is better ? I am not a technicial person and I know that I can download the forum and build it but some very internal matter such as hacking ... or other should be told by expert like you ...

I already installed phpBB3 and spend my one full day on it. Should I change it to SMF or phpBB3 is good enough

 

Before I post this I want everyone to know that I have used phpbb smf and mybb.

If you are looking for crap use phpbb it still functions like it did when it was first created. It is the biggest waste of time to try and mod it.

SMF while its secure they don't seem to really ever release updates and fixes. And sure their community is larger then mybb's but thats because smf has been around longer.

If you want a simple forum then go with SMF but be warned its incredible hard to theme from the point of view of someone who has themed many different boards. Mybb is the easiest to theme it has been since it was released it will continue to be.

SMF their plugin system is somewhat in complete I mean it for the fact that they have the upload the package but then you might still have to do template edits compared to mybb where you upload the files and then just go and click activate in the admincp and its installed template edits and all.

SMF isn't visually pleasing in a designers point of view when mybb is incredible visually pleasing right out of the box.

All in all I have to go with mybb. This is coming from a person who used smf for over 2 years and then started using mybb when I found it to be alot more customizable and pleasing.

Mr.sandman stop flaming rectangleman he is the best developer of plugins for mybb he knows what he is talking about. He has had many years of experience compared to your months and just the fact that your test site is a live on shows that you are not experienced enough to say one is more secure then another.

 

Just going to shoot down a few comments.

Uhh SMF seems a lot more modern as there actually designing a new theme where as myBB refuses to create a new default theme till 2.0. If you look at SMF2.0 they feature very modern drop downs in the admin, control panel, and soon to be profile.

In SMF2.x the package manager attempts to add the codes onto custom themes.

I would have to disagree, I hate having to go into the admin panel to edit templates and you should be able to edit it using your own editor like SMF allows you to do. Also the templates in SMF2.0 are semantic which will allow theming too be much easier.

Sorry I still see this issue present. Under new posts (you can notice the read ones are unbolded) See attachment below.

From a mybb/smf standpoint I never looked back at phpbb. I would say move - but if your happy with it theres no need to move.

Another downfall I feel is that myBB reminds my completely of vB and I dont see that many out of the box features as SMF does.

 

See, it's comments like this that irk me. This is either a flat out, bold face lie, or clueless to the highest level ever.

SMF release updates often. They just released 1.1.6. And what fixes does SMF need? C'mon man, don't come on here lying about software, there is no need for it.

Is MyBB paying you to lie?

OMG! Another lie. SMF is extremely easy to theme or you can go to their official theme site and pick out one of HUNDREDS of premium themes.
http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/

I thought MyBB does require template edits? Either way, it's a simple procedure. Even on some wordpress plugins one has to template edits. It's not that big of a deal. And 'most' SMF mods work on just a simple upload.

This is personal preference. There are probably more designers than not who prefer SMF. Another silly statement.

I question your time with 2 years. If you spent time with SMF, then you'd know that SMF is on top of new releases and fixes. As a matter of fact, SMF needs no fixes. Yet the 'Tarkan', on this forum, needed help from a 'master MyBB specialist' just to get myBB to work on his server. The most straight forward and the most simplistic of tasks and MyBB has a bug for that.... LOL! C'mon man! Are you for real?

Another thing, MyBB was notorious for getting hacked and attacked. I hope they fixed this.

He might be the best at MyBB plugins, but his bias opinion is sickening. He is probably getting paid by MyBB to go on forums to slander other free open source forum programs.

OP, SMF is the best. Do a little more research on it and go to their forums. It's a very active community and plenty of people who are always willing to help. Their mod site is just awesome! SMF security cannot be beat either.

 

Anyone using the default theme for ANY software should just be shot on sight. It's a newbish thing to do. However I must say the base of SMF is so ugly that it's hard to make it look more appealing. Luckily SMF does have good authors that have created a solid set of choices for templates. I have seen some very pretty SMF sites out there.

However a forum software is just that...software.The tools provided by the software is more important. If it's hard to create your own custom theme then I think it's safe to say the software is a problem. People get around it though. Just look at phpbb where it undoubtedly has the worst template system and yet it has the most themes.

Mybb has been doing this for years now. Oh and when does this magical SMF 2.0 come out? Probably about the same time that Mybb 1.4x series is apexing and kicking it's ass.

I think a lof of this does get down to personal opinion and what one is already used to. I was used to phpbb and editing tpl files but I quickly grasped the mybb way. Being able to use their "Search and Replace" in admincp doesn't get any easier. Also the method mybb uses makes it possible and easier to have dozens of themes under your control. If you need to use FTP to edit each one...you're in trouble.

That's because you need to actually view the thread not the thread listing. Mybb marks threads as read which is more accurate than simply forums read. It's just a different method. I am probably going to move the "mark all forums read" link to the top to help facilitate that.

Not sure how that's really a bad thing since so many want VB and it's nearly a landslide vote if you ask which forum software is the best. Not that I think it's VB but many do. So to say that Mybb reminds you of VB...well...it's a mixed bag imho. Pay for VB hundreds or use Mybb for free....hmm....

At least most here seem to agree PHPBB sucks. If people want to use SMF and it's intuitive for them they should use it. To each their own. But you will see Mybb continue to make advancements and gain percentage in the market. I am sure of this.

 

You do have a point but most themes are based off the default theme for any software. You can have inspiration to build a better theme off a modern looking theme. An example of this is AEF has crappy features but the theme looks really nice and attracts people to it.

If were going by the way myBB1.4 was released - SMF2.0 would of been out ages ago. They make sure the software is bug free and secure before it goes gold and take every bug report into consideration so theirs no security flaws or major bugs after the main release. (And the next real release will be RC1 its at beta4)

So be it - phpbb should learn from its mistakes and listen to the people once in a while.

It may just be that I'm not used to it. But I went into the forum and clicked "Last one to posts wins" and went into the topic to the last post and it still displays under new posts. I dont see why you should mark the forum as read if you already read one topic. I guess its just personal preference how you want this.

Well its not necessarily bad but I like to have a forum that has "out of the box" features. I just hate it when someone uses the vB default theme on a myBB forum - thats just silly to me.

I'm sure it will grow it as its open source now too. Eventually more and more people will realize that phpbb has many downfalls and will either switch to SMF/myBB.

 

Mybb being a smaller project doesn't have the amount of beta testers available that it really does need. The software is extensive and well...bugs popup. They have slowed down considerably though and I would say around 1.4.5 it will be nearly bug free. Most of the bugs in 1.4x are at this point minor. They don't cause crashes or destroy the forum...just some oddball function or feature that doesn't work properly under given circumstances. It happens on all software including SMF. Hard to test every feature under every circumstance.

That's what attracted me to Mybb and away from SMF. The default theme for SMF is rather ugly. I didn't want to have to spend a lot of time rearranging forum elements to suit my needs when Mybb imho comes positioned properly out of the box. Most mybb themes are just image and css changes...maybe header stuff too but that's about it. No need to tear apart the postbit or forumdisplay. The way SMF has it's post/replies column is unappealing.

I agree. I complain endlessly about it. Imagine if someone used SMF and then used the default phpbb skin on it. Disgusting but stupid people do stupid things.

Yup..I think what's great is you do have 2 different and new approaches with active development teams. It's good mybb is finally gaining some respect in the forum software arena. SMF is well established and I think mybb is just starting to get there. I think it's going to be a great next 2 years for mybb. When you have threads like this (SMF VS PHPBB VS MYBB) then I know mybb is doing something right. The competition between these 2 should benefit the users most. Each will need to continue to innovate and one-up each other. Good for me and you ehh. Don't think for a minute I wouldn't switch to another software if I didn't think it was better. I have done it many times before and who knows what the future has in-store.

 

I wouldn't say the SMF default theme is ugly but the layout of things could use some work. When it comes down to the default theme colors you are basically stuck with blue or else things would look wacky. I havent found a theme on a software yet though that is completely eye catching.

Very true in every you said. I have a long history of switching my forums software and it killed my community more than once Lol. I have learned the more you switch software the more your users feel unconfortable. I guess the conclusion of this thread is theres 2 really good softwares but its a matter of opinion how you want your community. No need to cry and tear what software is better. (except maybe phpbb )

 

SMF - Very simple to edit and mod... Great for project websites... Nothing big

Popular forums i would use PHPBB.

as for mybb i installed and deleted lol.

 

I see this a lot.

I fail to see how copying software (vB) looks, while making it more generic, less safe, full of holes, and with less features is a good thing. It's called stealing. Clearly they're trying to suck people in from stealing vB's visual platform.

 

I have accomplished this a number of times successfully over the years with various sites. Really it depends if you can convert well the theme and options. You shouldn't change often but when I say I change software it's normally for new forums I create. I always have a dozen or so forums running at any time and I have about 30 or more forum names ready for development. Sometimes I experiment with a software (as I did with mybb) and if I see the site explodes and users like it then I know I am on to something. My first mybb site I sold for $xx,xxx within 2 years. Not too shabby. A recent forum was sold for $62,000 at Sitepoint that started off as mybb as well (eventually converted to VB). Not bad either. Obviously a mybb->vb transition isn't going to be as shocking as phpbb->vb or even smf->vb.

I want to start a vanilla set but just haven't decided which one. I have played with that software a lot and love it. Just gotta find a good application for it.

 

I like SMF over phpbb more. Basically just because the mods are more of a 1 click installation compared to editing files in phpbb and for a nicer easier to use interface. But thats just me. If you have time to put into a forum and want it to be like your baby phpbb can be alot nicer for the type of person who wants to customize every aspect of it. like warez-bb has done.

 

I think better you see comparison of all forum's engines on http://www.forummatrix.org/compare/MyBB+phpBB+SMF+vBulletin

Afterward decide which one match with your requirements.

 

I also see a lot of folks wanting to convert their vB forum to MyBB, just as I've seen folks wanting to do the same with IPB and other forum software.

What makes it less safe and full of holes? As for the "stealing", remember that it's not the creators of MyBB that's making the "themes" look like vB, they're created by other MyBB users. But putting that aside, I'm pretty sure I could go through any search engine and find vB forums with XP themes, Vista themes, WOW themes etc, yet I guess in your eyes they'd not be stealing!! LOL!!

I feel almost sorry for you MrS andMan, it's as if something between you and MyBB went wrong like either you upset them in some way, or they upset you, and this is the post thread that you're "venting" all about it!!

 

Lol. I don't see a lot of vB users wanting to convert to MyBB. I'm calling BULLSHIT! on that one.

"MrS andMan" -How original. You came up with that all by yourself? You certainly must be the next Mark Twain!

Lol. Don't feel sorry for me. My community and I are doing GREAT with SMF.

4 pages in this thread and all the MyBB slappys can come up with against SMF is how boring their default theme is. Ignoring the fact that there are HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of free premium themes available for SMF.

Mean while, there was a poster who spent a few hours just trying to install a fresh script of MyBB on his server, and too many bugs wouldn't allow it to work, so a "master mod developer" of MyBB had to go in and do it for him. If that isn't the first red-flag.

Then other posters who come forward about their MyBB being hacked. Lack of mods, no support, very few themes available... and the list goes on....

Just saying... That's important information that people should take into consideration when starting a new forum.

I'm not sure why you are trying to candy coat the facts, unless you are somehow affiliated with MyBB. Are you?