Well, this is a message board system I came accross a while ago via my CPanel. I decided to test it out, since the only other option was phpBB.

After installing it and taking a look at the admin panel, I was amazed. It's easily ten times better than phpBB. The ease of use is unmatched for a free forum. Instead of modding manually, there is a "Package Manager" that allows you to easily browse, download and install new mods with a few clicks, no coding required.

It's also laid out very well in terms of code. It was very easy to add custom modifications and skins.

I would reccomend this to anyone looking to start their first message board.

The script can be found here:
http://www.simplemachines.org/


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Graphic Addicts - Music Our Way

I have told the owner of these forums, that SMF is 100 times better, millions of times. He seems to like phpbb tho.

I don't know why, but a lot of phpBB owners are reluctant to switch. But once they have... they never go back.


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Graphic Addicts - Music Our Way

SKETCHi wrote:

I don't know why, but a lot of phpBB owners are reluctant to switch. But once they have... they never go back.

Yes, well it's his decision. I wish he would. It would make things alot easier for me. lol

Personally, I think he's wise not to switch. It seems smf is fairly new and untested and may pose a security risk.

Also, it's really not that simple to just 'switch' between forum software and therefore why fix something that is not broke?

As for smf, it seems like bloatware to me. From looking at the forum on their website there is far too much statistics generated and imagine the overhead and database calls for all those stats, not to mention the 'advanced' admin interface which probably lists every time a user cracks wind.

Nah...I think the simple is an oxymoron as the forum claims to be 'feature-rich' so how can that be possible without significant overheads?

SMF gets a big thumbs down from me.

catcalls wrote:

Personally, I think he's wise not to switch. It seems smf is fairly new and untested and may pose a security risk.

Also, it's really not that simple to just 'switch' between forum software and therefore why fix something that is not broke?

As for smf, it seems like bloatware to me. From looking at the forum on their website there is far too much statistics generated and imagine the overhead and database calls for all those stats, not to mention the 'advanced' admin interface which probably lists every time a user cracks wind.

Nah...I think the simple is an oxymoron as the forum claims to be 'feature-rich' so how can that be possible without significant overheads?

SMF gets a big thumbs down from me.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. SMF is not new. The name Simple Machines, is new however, the forum software has been around since yabb, and yabbse etc. it's made by the same creators and everything.

Actually it is, very simple to switch forums. SMF is very secure if you ask me. I've been using them for years, and in every update, there are major security fixes.

Advanced admin, is simply that. I mean you personally can not complain about a software, if you haven't tested it and used it yourself. Download it and install it on a test board, and work with the features, and the awesome templating system, and I gurantee, if you know what you're doing, and actually give it a go, you'll love it.

catcalls wrote:

Personally, I think he's wise not to switch. It seems smf is fairly new and untested and may pose a security risk.

Also, it's really not that simple to just 'switch' between forum software and therefore why fix something that is not broke?

As for smf, it seems like bloatware to me. From looking at the forum on their website there is far too much statistics generated and imagine the overhead and database calls for all those stats, not to mention the 'advanced' admin interface which probably lists every time a user cracks wind.

Nah...I think the simple is an oxymoron as the forum claims to be 'feature-rich' so how can that be possible without significant overheads?

SMF gets a big thumbs down from me.

That's just another bias opinion. Why don't you try it before you start telling everyone it sucks. I've used it for a while now and NEVER had any security problems, ever.

Meanwhile, there's a new phpBB exploit every other day.


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Graphic Addicts - Music Our Way

I think you'll find exploits are usually made for the most popular software. Relatively unknown software, such as SM forum, will not be put to the test until it gains a substantial following.

Since phpbb is installed as default with many server packages it is a common target.

I am simply stating facts.

1. It cannot be called efficient when it is 'feature packed'.
To expand on this, I write my own forum software rather than use a precompiled package. I prefer to know my forum softwre intimately thus the need to code it from scratch. I know from experience at writing forum software that 'features' such as the forum stats will consume HUGE amounts of resources if done to the extreme that SMF has coded.
Furthermore, having an admin panel that basically lists every mod/admin/user action is again resource dependant. For these reasons alone the extra coding required for all these 'features' makes it BLOATWARE.

When your forum gains popularity and has over 1000 visitors online at any one time you will experience severe server slowdown as your SMF forum has a significant overhead.

Comparing my forum software to SMF is simply like comparing a VB program to a 32-bit assembler one. They may produce the same GUI on top, but it's basically whats under the hood that counts for speed and efficiency and load-bearing.

I doubt you will have much luck actually getting SMF to 'perform' in a loaded environment because it is probably coded worse than vBulletin which is another crap forum with too many exploits.

I do not need to download it to test it - they have a working model on their website. That is all I need to see, the actual forum itself in operation. Basically, it's just another vBulletin clone with some added bells and whistles for incompetent end-users who want to run their own forum but do not know or cannot be arsed to write one themselves.

Like I said, when my forum reaches 1000 visitors online at any one time I will be glad I had written the software myself because I can fine tune it to perform in relation to the traffic. This will save me $$$ in server upgrades making it the last choice for increasing performance when I can simply rewrite the code if need be.

And finally, as for switching between forum software - it is a PITA because unless all the databases are identical and save threads and replies the same, you have some serious issues to deal with to keep the data in your base and use the new forum.

Sure its easy to wipe out years of threads just so you can try an untested (but really cool) SMF - isn't it? But like I said, I think the admin here have more sense than to just jump on the bandwagon of each new, free, 'feature packed' release.

Personally, it makes me laugh when you said you can install 'add-ons' with a simple click of the button. That is  not attractive to me - in fact it takes more control away from the admin. If I want an add-on, I'll write one. Isn't that what PHP is about?

If you want to play admin on a forum, fair enough, but if you want to learn how to code - become a programmer...