Forum Wesbite / Software

[Strath]

Hi All

I am looking at setting up a website based around a certain product in the childrens toy department, the website will be a forum based site (similer to UKBF, although 100% regarding the childrens product). Can anyone suggest a forum package/site/script. Or quote for the development of a site.

 

Hi All

I am looking at setting up a website based around a certain product in the childrens toy department, the website will be a forum based site (similer to UKBF, although 100% regarding the childrens product). Can anyone suggest a forum package/site/script. Or quote for the development of a site.

Hi Strath,

You have a couple of options,

www.phpbb.com - This is an open-source free forum software

www.vbulletin.com - You have to pay for this software but I think this would be the one I'd use. (UKBF uses this software)

It's easy to install, and relatively easy to tweak. I am sure there will be more people pop their heads up who have had more hands-on experience with it.

The only cost from a programmer should come from skinning the theme to your own.

 

[Strath]

Thats great thanks, sounds like the ideal solution, i will take a good look. The UKBF forum is perfect exactly the layout and features we would need.

And as you say just the theme design to look at after.

 

[Dwebs-Ltd]

vbulletin is the way to go

 

[martynb]

Hi Strath,

Another one i would suggest is SMF

simplemachines . org if i can remember

I use this forum on one of my projects its very simple to use and clean might just be worth checking this out too..

Depending on which script you use, You will need somebody to skin it. As from what i can remember phpbb needed some programming knowledge

Hope it helps.

Martyn

 

Hi Strath,

Another one i would suggest is SMF

simplemachines . org if i can remember

I use this forum on one of my projects its very simple to use and clean might just be worth checking this out too..

Depending on which script you use, You will need somebody to skin it. As from what i can remember phpbb needed some programming knowledge

Hope it helps.

Martyn

Believe me phpbb is easier in comparison to SMF and Vbulletin wins hands down on functionality in my eyes.

Strath, glad I could be of assistance to you.

 

[ken_uk]

phpbb3 has gone gold now, so is out of beta and officially ok to use on production sites now.

Been using it for ages in beta, not had any problems with it.

 

[Chelltune]

What are the benefits of VBulletin over Simple Machines? I have a Simple Machines Forum on my site, it is broken at the moment. I don't like the forum and am thinking of having a new one rather than fix the existing one.

 

[kayemdesign]

Hi

I think before choosing forum software you need to think about what you want your forum to achieve and what functionality it would need. VB has a stack of features, but you need to ask yourself will you use or need them all?

I would like to add another one into the mix which I use on my forum/blog (sig.) - Expression Engine - which has a forum module that whilst it doesn't have the same range of features as VB it does hook in very nicely to their extremely powerful CMS solution.

I'm not knocking any of the main forum packages but I plonked for EE based on the long term picture of building a business community and blog site that will be fully integrated and feeding from one another.

Just my 2c worth.

Steve

 

[richardmyers]

I personally find vBulletin is excellent from a User standpoint but from an Admin point of view it's terrible. IP.Board is excellent in terms of Admin but not as good from a users perspective. And I wouldn't even consider a free forum software.

 

[Chelltune]

I personally find vBulletin is excellent from a User standpoint but from an Admin point of view it's terrible. IP.Board is excellent in terms of Admin but not as good from a users perspective. And I wouldn't even consider a free forum software.

Can I ask why not?

 

[richardmyers]

Having only ever used Invisionfree myself, how well/poorly does that rate compared to these others you are mentioning?

InvisionFree is basically IPB 1.3, now IP.Board is into 2.3.x and it's changed a little. Well a lot really, the whole ACP is different and pretty much the way the forum looks and functions is different in the 2.x.x series. It's much more secure, advanced and generally speaking it's a better software.

@ Chelltune - PHPBB2/3 is a security loophole waiting to happen, it always has been and always will be. I've never liked the PHPBB ACP or the forum itself either. SMF is a little too simple for my liking, XMB is basically Proboards without the ads, MyBB is pretty good though (mybboard.net). To me with forum software you really do get what you pay for, although IP.Board is quite a lot more expensive than vBulletin it's worth it IMO. As much as I hate vBulletin's ACP I would gladly take it over a Free software.

 

[sabian1982]

As Gavin has mentioned vB and phpBB are probably the best and most recognised for forum solutions. If you've got the budget, definately go for vB as this has excellent features, is definately better in terms of spam provension (although obviously not 100% as with anything) and has an excellent support community!

 

[Chelltune]

Thanks for your help, Iam going to go with vBulletin.

 

[bernielady]

vBulletin is definately the way to go, and i think you find find that the vBAdvanced CMPS (i think its called that) would help you with what your trying to achieve. All you would need is a good vBulletin designer or a suitable vBulletin template.

Have a look at vB Advanced CMPS, and its a free add-on to vBulletin

(Try the live demo too to see what it looks like.)

Hope this was helpful to you .

Mike

 

[TalkAngling]

I use vbulletin on my forum at talkangling.co.uk and we are probably the busiest angling chat forum in the UK right now + it works well with the search engines.

 

[TalkAngling]

Oh forgot to say that vbulletin also has a very nice blog addon - think it is about £40 extra but its the best blogging tool for forums by far, nice and easy to customise.

 

[ken_uk]

@ Chelltune - PHPBB2/3 is a security loophole waiting to happen, it always has been and always will be.

Based upon what evidence?

 

[Chelltune]

vBulletin is definately the way to go, and i think you find find that the vBAdvanced CMPS (i think its called that) would help you with what your trying to achieve. All you would need is a good vBulletin designer or a suitable vBulletin template.

Have a look at vB Advanced CMPS, and its a free add-on to vBulletin

(Try the live demo too to see what it looks like.)

Hope this was helpful to you .

Mike

Thanks, someone else recommended this.

 

[dave_n]

I use vbulletin on my forum at talkangling.co.uk and we are probably the busiest angling chat forum in the UK right now + it works well with the search engines.

busier than worldseafishing.com ?

 

[w9628983]

Hi all,

I've been reviewing this thread with interest as I am researching forum software, my only absolutely requirement centres around rating users posts. I will have a set amount of topics in which a user can post, these posts will then be rated and I need the rating per topic. Has anyone come across forum software with that level of rating ability?

Thanks

Ian

 

[w9628983]

Just to clarift - I need to see the rating a user has per topic - not an overall one