Dark Takua
Paragon
I loove phpBB3, but the main MODs are easy to install (at least what I what 😛), some of the extra ones are hard. The best alternative it MyBB, because it's so related to it.
Clear Alternative to VB?
- Thread starter Justin
- Start date
Unknown Bliss
Resident
phpBB, if not then MyBB
el canadiano
Paragon
MyBB mods are easier to install than phpBB's. SMF, however, has the easiest mod install I've seen in any forum software (upload the zip through the ACP). MyBB, as said by a previous post, is the best alternative to phpBB. If you look at my forum, you can see it's pretty easy to make a MyBB theme look like vBulletin's (all it takes is some HTML, CSS, and MyBB variables).
However, I've seem some excellent SMF skins which are vBulletin ports, you should find them. SMF and MyBB, to me, are among the best free software. Also, why should you rip on The Hat Tipper? What can he do if he's admining a phpBB forum? Since when did he own the forums in the first place?
If you CAN pay, however, get IPB 3. No, it's not the crap you get at IPBFree or Forumotion, but its software is great, added features from IPB 2 yet it's still a lighter package. Its support has always raped vBulletin in every way possible. Words can't describe how satisfied I am with IPB at the moment. Bottomline: As long as you host your own forum, you should be good.
However, I've seem some excellent SMF skins which are vBulletin ports, you should find them. SMF and MyBB, to me, are among the best free software. Also, why should you rip on The Hat Tipper? What can he do if he's admining a phpBB forum? Since when did he own the forums in the first place?
If you CAN pay, however, get IPB 3. No, it's not the crap you get at IPBFree or Forumotion, but its software is great, added features from IPB 2 yet it's still a lighter package. Its support has always raped vBulletin in every way possible. Words can't describe how satisfied I am with IPB at the moment. Bottomline: As long as you host your own forum, you should be good.
NBK*Twitch
Seasoned Veteran
I would suggest smf. It has more features and is easier to install compared to phpbb and mybb. They also have a great community.
If you go for MyBB, here are some great plugins you can get. Free ones are marked with ''F''. Paid ones are marked with ''P''.
Advanced Profile (Beta) - Gives your forum an IPB 2 like profile. (F - Beta)
Advanced Quick Reply Form - Adds BB Code buttons to the Quick Reply. (F)
Report PM - Allows your members to report PMs. (P - $10 lifetime subscription to MyBB Central)
Who's viewing this thread. - (P)
Jump to Page - Allows you to jump to a specific page in a thread. (P)
Moderator Permissions. Gives you more control over what your moderators can and can't do. (F)
Quick Theme - Allows you to quickly select a theme from the bottom of any page. (F)
Thread description. Adds a thread description field. (F)
Private Message Admin PM log. (F)
Posts Required To View Forum. Sets a minimum post count to view certain forums. (P - Either by MyBux or Yearly Subscription.)
Advanced Profile (Beta) - Gives your forum an IPB 2 like profile. (F - Beta)
Advanced Quick Reply Form - Adds BB Code buttons to the Quick Reply. (F)
Report PM - Allows your members to report PMs. (P - $10 lifetime subscription to MyBB Central)
Who's viewing this thread. - (P)
Jump to Page - Allows you to jump to a specific page in a thread. (P)
Moderator Permissions. Gives you more control over what your moderators can and can't do. (F)
Quick Theme - Allows you to quickly select a theme from the bottom of any page. (F)
Thread description. Adds a thread description field. (F)
Private Message Admin PM log. (F)
Posts Required To View Forum. Sets a minimum post count to view certain forums. (P - Either by MyBux or Yearly Subscription.)
Watch Me Sink
Madly Diligent
A lot of those are default on other forums software (cough SMF cough), even the paid ones.
ANd why would you pay for a PM Log? It's in the database anyway...
ANd why would you pay for a PM Log? It's in the database anyway...
Kirisute Gomen said:
I'm going to ignore the remark about SMF as it's just going to start a pointless debate (that will turn into an argument).
The PM log is one of the free ones actually.
I rarely use it (only need it when I have to remove PM spam and verify complaints). I find that it's much easier than using PhpMyAdmin. Also, if you are one of those people that doesn't want to give your admins Cpanel access... You see my point?
What works for you may not fit all situations.
cityStatic
Seasoned Veteran
And most of those will be default in the next MyBB. It's pretty smexy.
el canadiano
Paragon
Kirisute Gomen said:
Then again, Quick Reply and anything RSS/Atom related is a mod on phpBB (and it's turned off by default in SMF 1.1) while it's default everywhere else. Don't get me wrong, SMF 2 looks great, and I really like SMF in general.
DarkRaven said:
You forgot Google SEO, great mod.
Watch Me Sink
Madly Diligent
Well to turn it on you just have to click it...
CyberFreak
Legendary Typer
Really?el canadiano said:
There was me thinking that phpBB had added quick reply and Feeds in the last release of phpBB3 :yes:
vonsteiner
Reputable
Fowler said:
You beat me two it, I think we will see a lot of mods built in from now on, thats what one of the developers said to me when I last spoke to him
el canadiano
Paragon
Then my bad.
Unknown Bliss
Resident
Yeah, the developers are now focusing on more feature additions than normal per release and some will be based on MODs that are built in and simplified.
NBK*Twitch
Seasoned Veteran
That still don't fix their bad release system. I mean really making main edits each release... That is a pain for themers..Fowler said:
I like smf's style alot better. Oh and mybb's.
CyberFreak
Legendary Typer
Themes weren't really the problem. The update did break a few mods. The theme here didn't cause me any problems really. No more really then a normal update.
el canadiano
Paragon
Fowler said:
Minor updates shouldn't be breaking anything, whether it be mods or themes. MyBB included (but only for themes, mods are fine). From my past experiences, I have never seen an SMF or IPB theme that went incompatible in any way from a security release (ie. 1.0.1 to 1.0.2 as an example). As a matter of fact, IPB 2.3 was compatible with all IPB 2.2 skins and most of its mods as well.
CyberFreak
Legendary Typer
No phpBB3 styles went incompatible in any phpBB3 release since it went gold (phpBB 3.0.0). The dark style here was made for phpBB3.0.2 or The dark style here was made for phpBB3.0.3 and it still works fine and hasn't been updated for ages. If i didn't do the style updates, the forum would still be more then usable. It would lack the new features but it would work.
Minor updates shouldn't break anything but this wasn't really a small update we are talking about here. Boths mods that weren't compatible was because similar features to each of those 2 mods were added as default to phpBB. We were going to remove them anyway as you don't need a mod doing what it can do by default.
Minor updates shouldn't break anything but this wasn't really a small update we are talking about here. Boths mods that weren't compatible was because similar features to each of those 2 mods were added as default to phpBB. We were going to remove them anyway as you don't need a mod doing what it can do by default.
NBK*Twitch
Seasoned Veteran
I think I choose the wrong words.
What I meant to say is with each release of phpbb they change main things that have broken mods and themes.
When you compare that to smf's and mybb's release systems it just looks scary tbh.
See all smf and mybb update is security and make patches.
Well phpbb adds removes or modifies stuff each release. I find that very annoying.
What I meant to say is with each release of phpbb they change main things that have broken mods and themes.
When you compare that to smf's and mybb's release systems it just looks scary tbh.
See all smf and mybb update is security and make patches.
Well phpbb adds removes or modifies stuff each release. I find that very annoying.
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