[SOLVED] Torn about Software

Started by Socialist, October 13, 2008, 06:13:42 PM

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Socialist

I don't want this to turn into Forum software bashing. Please don't state that another software sucks, and please don't just say <blank> is better than <blank>. I want a reason :)

The purpose of my Forum would be for gaming discussions mostly. I would have Trades, and Real-Life Trades (Would this obey SMF rules?) I would also want users to be able to post links to files using links to a storage site. I would start small and use free hosting and hopefully move on when I generate the necessary funds from Ads etc.

So I looked into Mybb, SMF and finally Phpbb3.

Mybb - I liked it, but lack of Mods etc.

SMF - Looks really nice. Easy to modify, secure, I like basic functions of it. I heard that the coding for it isn't good.

Phpbb - Very Popular, Has many Mods etc. Hard to Modify, Attacked by Hackers.

So I have to choose between SMF or Phpbb3.

SMF isn't prone to attacks like Phpbb3, the Admin CP looks simple to use. I tried to put in my own logo, but had issues with it so I decided to try Phpbb3. SMF has a nice community unlike Phpbb3 from what I've seen. When Phpbb3 updates, it's a large difficulty to get your mods working again because you have to modify a lot of code. It's not as simple as SMF.

So I'm basically stuck. I think the Phpbb3 Admin CP is kind of bloated and confusing, but for big forums, it looks like it's needed for certain options. I heard that Phpbb3 is more vast than SMF.

What I really like about SMF is the ease of installing Mods.

*shoots self*

What do you think I should use? I have tried both. The only problem I had with SMF was changing the logo, but I'm sure that could be done. I had trouble centering it.

Phpbb3 looks complicated.

Opinions?



EDIT - I heard that Phpbb3 can be used with some Google Mail software so Google sends Activations to Users etc. My currently free host doesn't let me send Email Activations through my Hosting Account's Email. Would it be possible to send this Activation stuff through Google Mail with SMF?

Deprecated

Quote from: Socialist on October 13, 2008, 06:13:42 PMSMF - Looks really nice. Easy to modify, secure, I like basic functions of it. I heard that the coding for it isn't good.

I'm a professional developer and SMF mod package author and while I'm not entirely happy with some areas of SMF's code, the overall style and operation is great, very much comparable to professional projects I've worked on. It in no way justifies the "coding for it isn't good" accusation, and I question the qualifications and experience of a person who would say that, and also question whether they have even looked at the code. And understood it. :)

Socialist

Wow, thank you for that honest and educated answer :)

That's a + towards SMF.

Deprecated

I can't address the other issues except to repeat what others have said. They say the wide variety of mod packages is attractive. They say that SMF has good support here in the forum. They say there are a wide variety of themes.

It's free. It's reasonably easy to install and maintain. It works well.

Con: The default theme is rather boring. (I partly agree but default is all I run.)

I'll add one of my own. It's damned frustrating that SMF is between 1.1.6 and 2.0 gold. So much of the portal stuff is 1.x only (e.g. TinyPortal). It's unsettling both as a mod package author and as a forum operator that I know my Beta 4 stuff is all going to have to be ripped apart again soon.

It's frustrating writing mod packages that run on both versions, almost twice the work and twice the support. I'm working on a BIG mod package right now and I know there isn't a chance in hell that it will work on the next SMF version or Beta. It's discouraging knowing that all this work is going to go down the tubes the next time the dev team does a release. And worse, there is no way to be prepared because they don't tell us in any sufficient detail for us to do something about it.

That's the worst I can think of to say about SMF. I think vBulletin and phpBB had better look out when the full release SMF 2.0 comes out. We're gonna be eating their lunch! :)

aldo

It will be hard to get a true choice here, since no doubt everyone will say SMF... I would like to say some stuff, but when it comes to SMF, I am very very [...] biased :)

If you said phpBB2, that would already be down and out, but to be honest, I am not sure how secure phpBB3 is... you would have to wait a bit and give it time before deciding that :P

Oh and about the phpBB3 thing and GMail, so can SMF, its just, you can't modify those settings if you are using a SMF host... You should really install SMF on like your computer on like XAMPP or WAMP, and install SMF to try out the real SMF

Deprecated

Modify what settings? I'm working in that area right now, and if you explain your objection it just might get fixed in my new mod package. In the next few days. *THAT* is why people like SMF, because the mod authors jump on the problematic areas like fleas jump on an old coon hound.

aldo

Quote from: Deprecated on October 14, 2008, 12:53:37 AM
Modify what settings? I'm working in that area right now, and if you explain your objection it just might get fixed in my new mod package. In the next few days. *THAT* is why people like SMF, because the mod authors jump on the problematic areas like fleas jump on an old coon hound.
Yeah, its a community thing, and lots of people think SMF is awesome as well :)

Socialist

That's why I love about SMF. It's more Community based, even though it doesn't really have a complete Open Source license.

@aldo,

What do you mean by installing SMF on my own computer? I use Awardspace Hosting. I FTP everything and install. I don't create those Automatic Forums like Proboards etc. They're too simple and you don't get access to all of your data.

shadow82x

Heh I tried almost every software out there out there. Yes SMF/IPB/phpBB/myBB/(insert software here)

There all nice softwares yes but there are things SMF holds that other don't like

- Tracking of posts: Try tracking posts on ANY other software... None compare to how SMF does it and you can even ignore posts

- Simplicity: Any software I tried cannot handle one click/upload mods and themes. Also features throughout the forum are even very easy to use and configure. You will notice everything is user friendly.

- Flexibility: SMF has tons of mods and themes. With a kickass theme engine. ;) I personally find things to edit. Though I cant comment on the coding part as I'm not a major coder.

- Security: Never had to deal with spam bots or being hacked ever using SMF.

- Also several other small things that just blend in like contact info by posts, quick reply, WYSWIYG editor, admin panel is actually part of the forum, and lots more.

Those are my 2 cents. I went through just about every forum software and love SMF the best.
Colin B
Former Spammer, Customize, & Support Team Member

Deprecated

Your post is spot on Shadow. All those things are true. Except SMF is a kickass mod engine, not a kickass theme engine. :P

Although I do like that (insert software here) forum software. Unfortunately their website http://www.(insert software here).com is always down. ;)

aldo

Quote from: Socialist on October 14, 2008, 04:44:14 PM
@aldo,

What do you mean by installing SMF on my own computer? I use Awardspace Hosting. I FTP everything and install. I don't create those Automatic Forums like Proboards etc. They're too simple and you don't get access to all of your data.
Oh, I thought you used it on one of those hosting things :P I meant like XAMPP, but disregard that, I read wrong.

Jade Elizabeth

Hey there Socialist, welcome to SMF :D.

I began with phpBB myself, and have used both 2 and 3 versions. I have also used SMF 1 and 2 versions, and currently use version 2.0.

I found phpBB2 very easy to use, I loved it. I couldn't customize it for the life of me, and a simple mod installation would take me forever (I messed up a LOT :-[) but that was because I lacked knowledge, nothing to do with the software itself. I would recommend it for a beginner as it has a simple layout.

My phpBB2 forum was hacked so I reinstalled with phpBB3. I found that version incredibly confusing, and couldn't configure it. I couldn't manage my forum at all :(.

I decided it was too hard and tried out SMF, I fully intended to uninstall SMF after a few days of trying it out. I never did. I fell in love with it :D.


SMF for me, is easy to manage and customize. I have 109 members on my forum and over 60,000 posts. I get approximately 300 posts per day, my userbase is very active. I upgraded to SMF 2.0 because I needed the logging and warning systems for my userbase. I also wanted built in subscriptions and all the other perks of 2.0 :D. My forum now is highly customized and has heaps of perks the members love.

SMF big boards announcement proves that big boards can use SMF, and there are many successful SMF big boards around, www.bigboards.com (I believe that's the address, as it's blocked at school) will show you some of them :D.

Choosing your software is a matter of preference. You need to choose it based on what you need. I needed a forum that could handle my members, was secure, and that I could configure fast and easily, I found that SMF suited me. I won't be changing software ;D.

I think www.forummatrix.org/ has a good comparison chart for forum softwares if you wanted to look and see :D (everything is blocked at my school so lemme know if I posted bad links and I'll fix it later lol).
Once proud Documentation Writer and Help Squad Leader | Check out my new adult coloring career: Color With Jade/Patreon.

babjusi

#12
@Socialist, the best thing to do in my opinion is to install all forums alternatives and play around with their settings/features/options etc. And in the end you can use whichever forum you think fits your needs best.

Deprecated

Yeah, what Babjusi said. Well you can't install vBulletin without paying for it as far as I know. (Tell me if I'm wrong, I'd love to run an eval copy for a few weeks.) Just install the open source ones and play with them all. Then make an informed decision on what to run in production.

Night09

I tried phpBB before SMF and also looked at some others. What made me use SMF in the end is the fact that I am a gamer and the mods and themes available on SMF were a better choice since I had looked at other guild sites to see what they use.

A guild I was in used SMF when it was the really old versions and I liked the setup we had then.I actually forgot the name of SMF in my quest for a forum until I came across a site that really looked nice,I then saw the powered by SMF logo at the bottom and came here to see what it was all about.

So for me it was the best choice at the time and since then I have got used to it and don't bother to even look at others anymore.Mod wise there is a fair choice and its not bad if you have a good idea to make one or ask for someone to try do it for you.It is all down to personal preference at the end and what your really looking for in a forum.

Jade Elizabeth

Quote from: babjusi on October 17, 2008, 11:12:01 AM
@Socialist, the best thing to do in my opinion is to install all forums alternatives and play around with their settings/features/options etc. And in the end you can use whichever forum you think fits your needs best.

+1
Once proud Documentation Writer and Help Squad Leader | Check out my new adult coloring career: Color With Jade/Patreon.

Socialist

I have decided.


SMF IT IS! :D A lot better.

Jade Elizabeth

What made you make your decision?
Once proud Documentation Writer and Help Squad Leader | Check out my new adult coloring career: Color With Jade/Patreon.

Socialist

I tested both, and now I am standing on the SMF side.

Phpbb3 has security flaws
Phpbb3 is painful to install Mods/Themes with
Phpbb3 is complicated

SMF has an easy Mod Installer
It's Setup is very easy
SMF is secure.

There :D

Also... Support at SMF is a lot better than other forum software. Mybb follows after SMF.

Jade Elizabeth

Once proud Documentation Writer and Help Squad Leader | Check out my new adult coloring career: Color With Jade/Patreon.

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