SMF 2, phpbb3, or MyBB?

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xarver

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Hello guys, long time no see! 😀
Recently I've become more interested in forum administering again for some reason. I want to start a forum, not sure of what yet, and was wondering what forum software I could use.
I do not have a budget and hate proprietary things so I'm left with 3 good choices: phpbb 3.0.8, MyBB 1.6, or SMF 2.0.

All are very good choices but let me give you some background information:

  • I'd really rather not use phpbb because of the sub-difficult mod installation, headaches, and lack of features. The community and mod database is great though and I have some experience in it. 😕
  • I love mybb, it has been my favorite, but it's very difficult to find a decent theme that isn't over-used and theming it looks difficult. Plus I'm starting to not like the vBulletin3 feel that much. 😳
  • As for SMF, I'm not experienced in it at all besides the 1.1 series a while ago. The 2.0 Final just released and they became open-source again so it looks promising. The look and feel is amazing but I'm not sure yet. Minor theming looks really easy.

I sort of plan to make a custom theme for the forum. Just some things like major image changes and css edits. 😛

What is your take on it?
 
You should go with IPB or XenfForo, but if you want free go with myBB 😀
 
Iforum said:
You should go with IPB or XenfForo, but if you want free go with myBB 😀
Click to expand...
I do not have a budget and hate proprietary things
:roll:

I like the look of XenForo but in my opinion it sort of crosses the line between forum and social network-ish look and feel. I don't know if that's just me. 😉
 
True, it all depends on what you want. I have used myBB for a long time so I would say that. SMF has had some struggles so I am not sure about that one. PhpBB is not great!
 
All your receiving here, as Iforum said, are biased opinions. Half the people here that are saying one forum software, haven't used any other. You should really be looking at what kind of forum you are trying to run on your system.
Are you looking for a whole lot of MODs that you can be sure won't break your board? Use MyBB. Are you looking for lots of MODs that you can choose from and modify further past the point of what you downloaded it as? Use phpBB. Are you looking for a simplistic forum software that makes it really easy to work out your forum? Use SMF.

Quite easy, it just takes some time. Don't rush, slow down, take a deep breath, and figure out what you need to be successful.

Good luck 🙂
Jake™
 
xarver said:
Hello guys, long time no see! 😀
Recently I've become more interested in forum administering again for some reason. I want to start a forum, not sure of what yet, and was wondering what forum software I could use.
I do not have a budget and hate proprietary things so I'm left with 3 good choices: phpbb 3.0.8, MyBB 1.6, or SMF 2.0.

All are very good choices but let me give you some background information:

  • I'd really rather not use phpbb because of the sub-difficult mod installation, headaches, and lack of features. The community and mod database is great though and I have some experience in it. 😕
  • I love mybb, it has been my favorite, but it's very difficult to find a decent theme that isn't over-used and theming it looks difficult. Plus I'm starting to not like the vBulletin3 feel that much. 😳
  • As for SMF, I'm not experienced in it at all besides the 1.1 series a while ago. The 2.0 Final just released and they became open-source again so it looks promising. The look and feel is amazing but I'm not sure yet. Minor theming looks really easy.

I sort of plan to make a custom theme for the forum. Just some things like major image changes and css edits. 😛

What is your take on it?
Click to expand...
Xenforo if you will pay for a forum software and MyBB if you want free one 🙂
 
Jake™ said:
All your receiving here, as Iforum said, are biased opinions. Half the people here that are saying one forum software, haven't used any other. You should really be looking at what kind of forum you are trying to run on your system.
Are you looking for a whole lot of MODs that you can be sure won't break your board? Use MyBB. Are you looking for lots of MODs that you can choose from and modify further past the point of what you downloaded it as? Use phpBB. Are you looking for a simplistic forum software that makes it really easy to work out your forum? Use SMF.

Quite easy, it just takes some time. Don't rush, slow down, take a deep breath, and figure out what you need to be successful.

Good luck 🙂
Jake™
Click to expand...
Thank you for an actually legit and informative post. I think I've decided to use SMF because I have founded some great mods for it and they have great documentation. Thanks! :great:
 
But he is asking for what he should use. Not what you like and what you use. Give some good options for him.

All of you are recommending things that might throw him off the road of success into a gully of burning fire...
Let him figure it out himself with some good options.
 
@xarver
Good luck with SMF. It is very easy to use but finding a good style is next to impossible. I would have personally went MyBB due to it having good security (Famous hacking forum use MyBB because they say it is the hardiest forum software to hack), how easy it is to add add-on, and MyBB 2.0 looks really good..
 
Nice to see you again, Xarver.

MyBB has a few good options now that are not vBulletin-related. Do check them out. Generally speaking they've been good to me. Also, Audentio's released some good themes (but are not free).

If you want SMF, go for a Crip or a dzinerstudio theme. Both have consistently been good.
 
^dont forget bloc 😉

Anyways I know you have already decided SMF,but I would like you to know theming for MyBB is very very easy. Infact I am willing to say it is the easiest free forum software to design for.

@kevin how do you know if mybb 2.0 looks good. Only small pieces of it have been shown and is still in very very early development,meaning anything could change.
 
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