Should MyBB be 'repurposed' ?

[Ghost]

With social media having taken the spotlight over the last decade and a half, I do wonder if certain forum software should be trying to move towards a more social community vibe than a traditional forum layout.

For example, MyBB has:

• user profiles
• private messaging
• group based permissions for forum access (think: groups / pages on FB as the inspiration)
• very comprehensive admin controls
• more features

It's very plausible to consider a future where software like MyBB is repurposed to be more like a social network, or community feed, or otherwise a spin-off use case that is different than traditional forums.

The sad part is that this is something I wanted to see 10 years ago... And it's 2024 now. From what I heard recently, MyBB has lost a lot of its momentum, supporters, etc. I wish this was something they had done, but do you think it's still an option to regain some marketshare as a community software (more than a 'forum software'), or is it too late?

 

[Jason76]

MyBB doesn't have a default theme that is mobile friendly. I wonder why they haven't even done that. Anyway, it is good software and a lot of people like it.

 

[Baw$e]

I started my forum with Mybb, and switched over to Xenforo. For a free software Mybb is good, but I needed a mobile friendly version. I had members complain. I don't think Mybb has been updated in awhile.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I feel like MyBB is behind, even in terms of free forum scripts. I remember when most people who picked a free script went with MyBB. I'm still not sure why the default theme isn't mobile friendly, at least there's plenty of responsive themes available. I know the devs are working on version 1.9, but I feel like even if MyBB was repurposed it still might not help it.

 

[Cedric]

MyBB is no longer relevant to start an online community. It should be avoided at all costs. This due to plenty already stated faults and the lack in innovation and development.

 

[KensonPlays]

I've never touched MyBB in my life, tbh.

My first forum software was SMF. If I were to ever stop using XenForo (unlikely) I would rather return to SMF, since its what I'd be most familiar with.

 

[Black Angel]

MyBB is good software, and still gets updates, and the devs are working on 1.9 right now, so 1.8 only gets security updates.. but I agree that it needs a mobile-friendly default theme.. I wasn't too keen what was available, so what I did was take a basic and outdated responsive theme off of Github, stripped the css and replaced it with my own custom css and then went on to use that as my base for all of my themes. I even went the extra mile and converted the default MyBB theme so that at least it would be responsive for the visitors.. and I might do a few other default themes as a throwback to the software that no longer exists.. but I'll keep my custom themes accessible to the members only.. I am about halfway through with converting them, but doing so wasn't that hard.. and it was well worth the effort.

I think the thing many people forget is that MyBB was started by teens years ago, much like the other software that was around and as their lives got busy, their priorities had shifted as well, and this has led to the software being abandoned for a while. This was the case when I went with them back in 2014 after I decided to go to paid hosting. Back then, there wasn't as much support, but now things seem to be different. I have recently gotten support from both the staff and community much faster now, than I did back then.

That said, I am grateful that it is open source, because this means that if someone comes along, and believes they can do better, then they have the opportunity to put their money where their mouth is, and do so. This is great for innovation, and we don't have to worry about it going the same way other paid software has.. I've been online long enough to see those who swore by paid software, such as VB, IPB, and XenForo, and migrated their communities there, only to leave that software and end up with MyBB instead.. and some of these people where those who left forums in lieu of social media, only to return as well. I think in general, forums are making a comeback as people are getting tired of the both the bots, and the toxicity and I have seen many admins on subreddits I follow end up starting their own forums as well.

 

[TopSilver]

MyBB doesn't have a default theme that is mobile friendly. I wonder why they haven't even done that. Anyway, it is good software and a lot of people like it.

I didn't know that. What I can say is free software is always going to be less constructive as paid software though surprising they don't have a responsive theme out the box. Interesting.

 

[Jason76]

I didn't know that. What I can say is free software is always going to be less constructive as paid software though surprising they don't have a responsive theme out the box. Interesting.

It's not hard to bypass that, though. You just use a free or paid responsive theme, but the problem is the alert system (the only one I know) has become too difficult to install.

 

[Baw$e]

It's not hard to bypass that, though. You just use a free or paid responsive theme, but the problem is the alert system (the only one I know) has become too difficult to install.

The default skin on Mybb also isn't mobile friendly. That's another issue because MyBB hasn't kept up to date with the times.

 

[Ravenfreak]

The default skin on Mybb also isn't mobile friendly. That's another issue because MyBB hasn't kept up to date with the times.

Yep this is why I think it's behind. There's other alternatives that come with a responsive theme out of the box, I would say most of the free alternatives do now. Even the lesser known software such as FUD Forum comes with a responsive theme.

 

[HoleInTheGround.forum]

Why worry so much about the theme when that can be changed to responsive by a theme creator. it really boils down to the code the engine of the forum software.

 

[Lord Saru]

From the very beginning, I always thought that MyBB was a lost case.

I still stand by it.