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Which Forum Software? Vbulletin, PHPBB, Simple Machines Forum or some other script

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by turbosatan, Jul 14, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hi Everyone

    i would like to know which forum software you think is the best and why

    Also whats you favourite must have forum mod?

    please provide a link to any mods or writeups so we can all enjoy them

    reason i am asking is i have just bought a ghood forum name and i am considering which forum software to use on it.

    i look forward to your replies
     
    turbosatan, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  2. gamez93

    gamez93 Banned

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    #2
    I really like phpbb, its a great software, with a lot of different mods which are easy to add. Visit there website for info on the things - i dont advise using version 3 yet since it dosen't have alot of mods for it.
     
    gamez93, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  3. Jamson

    Jamson Active Member

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    #3
    Use IP.Board, it's the best!

    Lots of mods, Lots of themes, FANTASTIC support.

    vBulletin has been bought out by someone, so where it might head will be interesting.
     
    Jamson, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  4. turbosatan

    turbosatan Well-Known Member

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    #4
    turbosatan, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  5. DIY

    DIY Peon

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    #5
    PHPBB is great. I have used it for a couple of years now and it has some really cool mods. The best thing about it is that it is free and so are the mods, although some people do now sell mods for it.

    You can even make phpbb generate search engine friendly url's if you install the mods from www.phpbbseo.com

    I almost switched over to vbulletin at one point until I found the seo friendly mods!
     
    DIY, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  6. tony84

    tony84 Well-Known Member

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    #6
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_forum_software_(PHP)

    personally when i originally started with forum software i used phpbb, which was good to start with, i then tried smf which isnt bad its better than phpbb, however ive now migrated over to mybb which after a shakey start im a huge fan of now. The software is fairly new so there is not as many mods as you would get on phpbb or vbulletin but there is an active community and mods are being released daily.

    In answer to your question i definately would have a look at mybb
     
    tony84, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  7. turbosatan

    turbosatan Well-Known Member

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    #7
    i never realised wiki could be quite so useful

    thanks for the link tony84
     
    turbosatan, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  8. tony84

    tony84 Well-Known Member

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    #8
    there is also a website which brings up all of the types of forum software and you can choose 5-6 of them i think to compare them. Ive forgotten the URL but im sure someone here will know or a search will locate it
     
    tony84, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  9. snapplekid13

    snapplekid13 Active Member

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    #9
    phpbb or Ivision Power board are the best FREE ones. vB is the best one overall but it costs a pretty penny ;)
     
    snapplekid13, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  10. gotkloud

    gotkloud Well-Known Member

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    #10
    Yeah, at $ 160, Vb comes at a cost, but It is well worth it at that!
     
    gotkloud, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  11. lkj

    lkj Peon

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    #11
    I wonder why none mentioned Simple Machines, it's also good and freeware ;)
     
    lkj, Jul 14, 2007 IP
  12. turbosatan

    turbosatan Well-Known Member

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    #12
    i have used simple machines on a joomla site before

    seems like another great free forum software

    I think after comparisons i will go with vbulletin. it seems to have the best support and userbase.

    another reason i decided on it is the familiarity of the look and feel of vbulletin sites. because it is so commonly used people recognise it when they see it and are comfortable using it.

    thanks for all your input
     
    turbosatan, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  13. Jamson

    Jamson Active Member

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    #13
    Invision Power Board is a paid script. If you have a copy of IPB 1.3 around though, you can use that.

    http://www.opensourcecms.com
     
    Jamson, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  14. Rhinn

    Rhinn Active Member

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    #14
    I started off using phpBB as well, but I'm a fan of vbb in the end, if you're willing to spend a few bucks.
     
    Rhinn, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  15. Dan Schulz

    Dan Schulz Peon

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    #15
    Seriously, go with SMF. It's free (as in beer), easily customizable, separates the presentation (the skin) from the logic (the programming and database calls), and comes pre-installed with a LOT of the features you have to hack/mod into other forums to get. It's also perfectly capable of handling large forums, like http://forums.classicbattletech.com for example (there are others, I'll be more than happy to link them if you like).
     
    Dan Schulz, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  16. websule

    websule Peon

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    #16
    Vbulletin..
    Simply bcoz it has been developed by a very strong company providing regular updates and going web 2.0 now.. bringing many major integrable products like Social networking.. blogging etc.
    Highest of Professional Standards coding.. support available n access to Official forums for huge hacks n modules for free.
    there are many n many reasons that Vbulletin is best.
    I will simply say.. i am saying its best not coz i wanna recommend it...
    i recommend it coz it is simply the Best.
    Still all depends on what are your requirements n purpose/vision for your forums.
    regards
    deep
    Websule.com
     
    websule, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  17. Dan Schulz

    Dan Schulz Peon

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    #17
    Web 2.0 is a trend, not a standard. I do agree that vBulletin is very good, but there are other alternatives. Unfortunately, the only alternative I recommend is SMF. If you want to pay, then avoid the other paid scripts and get VB. If you don't want to pay, then avoid the other free scripts and go with SMF. There's really no better option than those two when it comes to PHP powered forums.

    And just because a company is behind a script or program's development doesn't mean it's great. If you need an example, just look at the company that's headquarted in Redmond, Washington (I'll give you a hint, it's called Microsoft).
     
    Dan Schulz, Jul 15, 2007 IP
  18. Herbie Hind

    Herbie Hind Guest

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    #18
    But is it SEF? THAT is the question. I must have a SEF forum. I have put in some sentences into Google, from random SMF forums, and nothing comes up.
     
    Herbie Hind, Aug 7, 2007 IP
  19. Dan Schulz

    Dan Schulz Peon

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    #19
    As search engine friendly as you can make it. As I said, the HTML code is separate from the programming functions and database calls.

    And yes, by default it is search engine friendly.
     
    Dan Schulz, Aug 7, 2007 IP
  20. WatchOut

    WatchOut Guest

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    #20
    vBulletin all the way, easy to customize, comes with tons of features, and both owned and leased licenses available at vbulletin.com.

    Thanks,
    Meti
     
    WatchOut, Aug 7, 2007 IP