WHich is the best FREE forum software?

I installed easy mod (or rather it installed itself) onto the test forum. I hit the admin link in the fototer, and wham... 404 page Problem is I didn't check the admin access or the forum before adding easymod. But it was working fine last time I looked, and the forum itself is working fine as well.

 

Oh & I should add that I love phpbb my forum has over 18,000 pages indexed, so you just gotta love software that is that good, that easy to use, a great support setup, and best of all is free!

 

I like vBulletin and PHPbb, but in my book simplemachines is the easiest, unless of course you have a HUGEMONGOUS site like DP then I would go with vB

 

Well you will be glad to know that easymod is up and running and is ok as well. Now if they could only bring out something to add the tables to the mysql databases I will be happy.

 

If you've got the latest edition of EasyMod, OWG, it does that too... the last two versions can automatically process any SQL statements in the MOD.

Now, the next time there's an update, you can install the MOD version automatically: http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/catdb.php?cat=48 (you may sometimes have to wait up to 24 hours after the initial release of the update but it's worth the wait to skip all those board-destroying typos).


And let's pray nothing happens to Acyd Burn...

 

I downloaded the latest version.

I tried to install the cashmod, but it looks like something else is clashing with it, as I am getting a critical error message

Cashmod mus not be compatible with the latest version of phpbb, as the code it is saying it can't find, was only ever touched by me during the last security update .

Shame, as I wanted the cash mod to add the sports betting mod (it is a rugby forum and would have been fun)

 

I think MYBB is best free forum software just like VB. huge features but no attractive skins avilable this time.

 

I seem to recall some problems mentioned at phpbb.com with that MOD, though I've never had a need for it myself.

I usually read the skinny on a MOD before I install it... give the smoke time to clear and wait to see what problems arise.

The one time I didn't do that the MOD seemed to install smoothly and about a month later I discovered it had been blocking Googlebot. That was a short sharp lesson in not being impetuous...

 

I did more research and decided upon SMF.

So far it is good and I have started liking the features.

I even found a theme (smfaqua) for SMF that has some features similar to those seen in vB. It has the same dropdown searchbox and quicklinks features of vB.

You can preview my forum - Mediscuss: A medical education forum here...

Would like your comments on the features there and the customization to include adsense.

 

I run cash mod on my forums. What's the issue?

 

IN the beginning I asked for the best free forum software. Then I got many advices. Now I have given my view... after experimenting with many free forum softwares.

i am using SMF on my site here.

 

Looks pretty good. I like the ad placements.
Enjoy SMF.

 

SMF does look pretty functional. And I almost clicked on the ads a couple times while navigating around. Since they were on topic they look like another category. I wonder if that may be hugely annoying to regs though? Do you have the option to not show certain blocks or whatever its called to registered users? ...just wondering for my own benefit. If you can build a community I'd say you are on to something. Those ads sound high paying.

Visually it's a little disorienting with no anchor points. My first instinct was to try to scroll up to see the header, but I was already there.

When clicking Home or search etc. there is a dotted outline box. Is that the scripts doing? I won't have nightmares over it or anything, but it is kinda squaresville.

That's a much shorter list than when I criticize my sites!

I don't know about simple machines track record or if there is a helpful community for the script...Guess I need to go exploring .

 

site looks almost like DP, but its good. Simplemachines does have a lesser history of bugs ( which some might say, due to being not as popular as phpbb ). however the most annoying thing ( for me, atleast ) about phpbb is the there is no sub-forums. how the hell can i properly maintain my forums without it? SMF atleast has this out of the box. also easy-mod is not the maggic bullet for phpbb. i tried to install a few approved mods and the second one broke my board. the reason, the mod before that modified files that the 2nd one needed. so unless you manually mod it can be a hassle.
dont get me wrong phpbb is great, but i think smf might be better.

 

If you want it, install the Categories MOD.

Absolute nonsense. If the first MOD made changes "that the second one needed", EasyMod would have generated error messages when it tried to install the second MOD. Besides, EasyMod generates backups of ALL files it modifies so it's easy to reverse any changes. All you need do is install a MOD and thoroughly check it out before you bull ahead and install a bunch more.

 

Minstrel is all over it! If I ever have a problem with phpBB, I'll just start a thread saying phpBB can't do this.

I know...sounds sarcastic, but it's a compliment.

 

In that case, thanks!

 

Any word on the Easy Mod issues with 2.0.18

 

As of last night circa 1 am EST, they had not yet released a validated EasyMod version but were working on it.

This is a major update and judging from the problems people who rushed to patch are having I advise people to hold off until the EasyMod version is released. There are a LOT of files to edit and a lot of edits to be made. It's easy to make an error if you're doing it manually.

Generally, an EasyMod compatible version is released within 48 hours - I expect it will come available some time today.

 

I've been using the simplemachines forum for about a month on a new site of mine. For whatever reason, I like it better than phpBB, but I can't explain why. I know that's a poor reason to give. Maybe it's more intuitive.

However, when I wanted a mod similar to the "cashmod" I ran into all sorts of problems. It seams to suffer from the same fate as vBulletin and maybe other forums. When the forum software is updated everything goes to crap and the new mods don't work.

After reading this thread, it appears that phpBB has a solution for both of these. I may give them a try again.

Brandon