16 replies to this topic

[Jonnyabc]

So...you get a website operational, and then you soon discover that it's really not all the difficult to add a forum to your site. On top of this, you can get quite a few good ones for free. And the best part is, they generally permit you to make changes to the code as you please (with few stipulations)!

The only problem is figuring out which one you are going to use...Electron, SMF, phpBB, Kunena, or IPS (what Trap17 and AstaHost uses, but it's not free), just to name a few of the ones I have managed to collect from different sources in the last week after talking with members and looking at different users' profiles/websites.

So I ask this question, both for own inquiry and for those of you out there to discuss and sizzle amongst yourselves...which forum would you recommend (or not recommend), and why (not)?

[OpaQue]

Go for phpBB or SMF, if you are learning to make a static website. (i.e. simple html pages) :-)

If you are using Joomla to run your website, you might wanna consider other options like :-

• Kunena 1.5 - kunena.com
  
• ccBoard - A True Joomla 1.5 Native Simple and Good Looking Forum

[Jonnyabc]

OpaQue, on Feb 21 2010, 10:11 PM, said:

Go for phpBB or SMF, if you are learning to make a static website. (i.e. simple html pages) :-)

If you are using Joomla to run your website, you might wanna consider other options like :-

• Kunena 1.5 - kunena.com
  
• ccBoard - A True Joomla 1.5 Native Simple and Good Looking Forum

Thanks OpaQue! How do you rank IPS with those? Obviously, it's a $$$ forum, but as far as if it's static (I'm guessing it is for the most part?), features you received that you would not get with phpBB or SMF, and how much rights they've given you to tweak the code (such as being allowed to remove their name from the page footer).

[OpaQue]

A forum like invision and phpbb is easy to to install. All you gotta do is, put a link on your homepage to your forum.

But in Joomla, you integrate the forum in your CMS.. well, that is how it should be. :-)

[kleong]

If you dont mind paying, I will say go for VBB. But if cost is something that you wish to avoid, then I will recommend PHPBB.

[Jonnyabc]

Sounds like phpBB or SMF is the way to go then! I'd like to find something that is easy enough to use, but at the same time, very customizable to the source level, and preferably resides (or appears to reside) on my website. I've been looking at myfreeforum.org and forumotion.com, but they reside on an external website.

Watched a couple videos on YouTube to help me figure out how they work...both semi-intuitive in different ways. I'm actually considering trying both phpBB and SMF them out at the same time and then discarding the one I don't care for...think that's smart, or a bit dumb, as far as attempting to install two at the same time (in different directories and different databases, obviously)?

[StvenWesley]

I also like to use phpBB, it is easy to use. And if you have little knowledge about this. you can try VBB. And there are some free templates you can refer to. Just try to use CMS.

[FouGilang]

If you seek something that is free, customizable, and elegant, i think you should try the smf forum. There should be an automatic installation in your softcalous (if you're using trap's web hosting) so you can try it without hassle in installation.

I don't really success on integrating joomla cms with the forum modules like kunena etc, so i won't say anything about those joomla extensions.

[deadmad7]

That depends on what features you want. SMF has a lot more features than phpBB, such as attachments, spell check (requires the ASpell library for PHP), sub-boards, a quick reply box, unlimited poll options (256 by default, but can be increased with a few tweaks to the database), news feeds from forum content, SSI.php (30+ functions to make website integration easier), etc.

If you want any of those features, then SMF would be your best option.

If its about the looks and templates I think it's about the admin and not the forums. A good admin can make phpBB look and function great and do the same with a SMF script too. You don't need to get a fancy script running to have a good forum. You need to get a script you can work on and make it unique. If you have more experience with SMF, then work on it. Don't just install a forum script. MODIFY IT. Even the latest VB script unmodded and with a default theme would be worse than a well modded phpBB. People need to understand that the script is only the framework of your "masterpiece". The true work is in the theme and script modding, not just the installation. I might get on some people's toes here, but I'm sick and tired of default looking forums, whether they are phpBB, SMF or whatever. Spending money on a script or installing a good free one won't make your project good. Making it look different from others and function as your members need it to function is the key

[Jonnyabc]

Wow...thank you guys. Didn't expect to get a swarm of new replies when I woke up!

I installed BOTH phpBB and SMF last night on my website. I'm going to have to play with them a bit longer before I make any decision, but at the moment I'm leaning more towards phpBB, since they give you a TON of options in the admin area. At the moment they are residing at jl-ectronics.com/forum1/ and jl-ectronics.com/forum2/. Both were fairly easy to install (especially after watching this and this). The only issue I am having (at least with phpBB) is creating a custom theme, as it appears they don't allow you to simply create one from scratch in admin controls. But I can likely figure that out on my own (if not, there's always Trap17!). Thanks again!