Okay, I have seen a forum once (don't remember the name) where pages were stored in a database. What do you people think, is it safe to store everything in a database or a file? A database would be interesting cause I could easily modify it from a web interface, but a file is more portable. What do you think about this? Like, if I was making a game, I think files would be easier but it could get confusing and messy also. Let me know what you think!
Most forums operate from databases. Their performance would be pretty slow if they didn't Database files are almost as portable as web site files so don't let that put you off. In most cases you'll be able to transfer your database files between hosts operating the same versions of database servers. The difference will be that all your information will be stored in a couple of database files rather than thousands of site files, so there's more at stake it you lose them. Just be sure to take regular backups of your database and you should be fine. Even if the host provides backup services you would still be wise to have your own backups - there are too many tragic stories of people losing everything when a server goes down or a host goes bust and the person didn't have a backup of their site or DB.
Operating a database is way much easire than a particular file or a group of them. So If one wants easy and fast operation then use DB
With most forum software you have the option to store everything - images, attachments, threads and post in the databse. If you store "everything" in the database, its going to get real big, real quick. Most people that run a forum store the attachments on the hard drive (file system) of the server, and the post and threads in the database. This keeps the database to a manageable size. On my main forum, the database is about 1.2 gigs with 1.2 million post - with attachments stored on the file system. If the attachments were stored in the database, it would be about 4 - 5 gigs.
Storing files on a server is becoming less and less popular, especially with Content devliery networks becoming so popular and cheap!
Well if you stored everything in a web based database, it would be both portable and convienient. You would be able to edit everything, change paremters and so on. It is like best of both worlds.