My opinion on SMF

[brad82]

Free is good. You've got your priority's right - IM ABSOLOUTLY DELIGHTED WITH THE SOFTWARE. really easy to use, moderate, and install *thumbs up*

[brad82]

I can only say one word  BRILLIANT!

[yoni]

שלום אני חדש

[Gary]

Please use English when outside of the language boards.

Cheers.

[青山 素子]

What I have found is that the open source software I've downloaded seems to have more integrity and work better than the commercial software generally. I don't know if that is a rule or an exception to a rule.
And I don't know if that will change if/when open source is no longer an "underdog" and no longer has something to prove. It's possible, I recall the the old saying "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

I'm not really sure it will change. The open movement is defined by making software that the developer wants/has interest in. This leads to quality because it is more driven by the desire to make it rather than some external pressure. Unfortunately, this can also lead to uneven quality as not all developers are equal and as interest and need changes.

Take SMF for example. Although we'd love to see it be the top software choice (hey, the team has great love for the project), a lot of what the developers do on the software is what interests them. There is a lot of external feedback from others using the software on where to go, but in the end, the feature set is defined by those building it.

An example would be Windows Vista, in which MS tried to pack in everything that they thought everybody wanted and made it really flashy, etc, etc, but, as far as I have seen, most Windows users prefer XP to Vista. So it didn't work.

And don't forget the fact that the most of the big touted features (WinFS anyone?) were dropped because they were way too ambitious (and poorly defined, imo). The big problem with Windows is the huge baggage of backwards compatibility. It's a self-made problem, but something they will need to solve (virtualization seems a nice way out - kinda like OS X's "classic" mode) to actually advance.

Part of this has to do with the degradation of marketing to using crude and obvious manipulation (and also subtle, not-so-obvious psychological manipulation) as a way to sell products, which disrespects people in general and the culture as a whole.
It didn't used to be this way, but the change has come in the past couple of decades and has been
very subtle and almost invisible to those who might not be paying attention.

I think marketing has for the most part gone the opposite way. It is much more subtle and invasive now. Back in the old days, it was very obvious (I've had to do research on old advertising for a college course). Sure, some advertising is very ham-handed and obvious, but I can't help but wonder if that wasn't the point. Ever wondered why deodorant packaging is (rarely) red or orange? It's because of marketing research.

So an honest creation (whether we are talking about software, music, movies, or whatever) is almost forced to steer clear of the world of marketing in order to maintain its integrity.
I think that is very sad.

I don't think that is 100% true. Rather, I think that integrity calls for a different type of, and more honest marketing. Perhaps, it needs to be more obvious, even.

[lukasztarkowski]

I like this forum and I'm glad its free
Making themes for this forum is easy
If I could support them I would, but for many reasons I cannot send money to donate to anyone on the net

[setthedark]

No offense toward SMF team , i like this forum and everything how is desgined , and in some point it might be batter then invision , but in near future none will supras Invision Power Board!

[Ben_S]

Use IPB then?

[Oldiesmann]

From the YaBB SE 1.5.1 release topic:

One thing you will notice is that this package is no longer released under the terms of the GPL.  The developers felt that while the GPL is a popular license it did not protect the source code as was felt needed.  This does not mean that YaBBSE is no longer open source software.  YaBBSE is and always will be open source software.  The new license was written to meet guidlines for open source certification.

I don't remember a whole lot about this as this all happened around the same time that I started using YaBB SE (I believe 1.5.1 was the first version I ever used), but I think the biggest issue was that people were blaming the YaBB SE team for security issues caused by changes made in modified distributions. David, [Unknown] or Compuart could probably explain it more.

[Ben_S]

Basically, some clown forked YaBB SE, then went on a spree round various forums claiming YSE was insecure & his own forum had all the problems fixed. Which was a load of bull basically, his clone was just as insecure & buggy as YSE was.

[baanhinghoy]

This forum is great!!

ทดสอบภาษาไทยครับผม

[dejiman]

The software is mervelous.
I don't know how to say my appreciation.

SMF GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT and GREAT forever.

please SMF people(users) just like me, let's continue to encourage SMF Developers and programmers etc... with something appreciating..

Thanks SMF you have really kept my pocket.

Regards

www.dejimanaire.com

[Eliana Tamerin]

We have your pocket? Really?! Then why aren't you a charter, yet?

Just a little humor for you.

[dejiman]

I mean saving me money rather than paying for some BULLETIN BOARD stuff. like VBULLETIN.....uh

We have your pocket? Really?! Then why aren't you a charter, yet?

Just a little humor for you.

[metallica48423]

welcome

[BCK]

well..i know free always seems great..we all like it..im new at this and do use smf,,,but must admit..i liked it enough to get a charter membership,,for the main reason..that it helps keep things going,,and believe if you get smf..use and like it..a donation or chartermembership..if you can afford to...will help keep good products like this alive,for us all to use and enjoy..as for the  "by smf" at the bottom of my site,,i leave it there for all to see..not much..but hopefully helps ...my hat off to all involved here,,,staff and members alike..ive gotten some great help here from both sides,keep up the awesome job...all of you...thx

[joshuam08]

Best Software EVER!!! 

Keep Up The Good Work!

[sonic]

I can only echo what has already been said...A brilliant peice of software and a big thanks to all of you guys when I do something wrong, always a quick response and very helpful.

Keep up the good work guys, I applaud you.

[simmer]

yeah yeah yeah i love smf smf is no 1 proud to be a owner of a sfm forum

[thenepalgallery]

Free is good. You've got your priority's right - IM ABSOLOUTLY DELIGHTED WITH THE SOFTWARE. really easy to use, moderate, and install *thumbs up*

yup its true