Forum Software?

DissidentRage · 02-11-2007, 09:54 PM

Scary thought, probably, but I managed to register a domain name for my ragtag game development group. Once it was all said and done I asked around with a few people on what forum software would be best. I was told to try Simple Machines Forums, but I received the disheartening notice that my host server isn't compatible because SMF requires a Linux server and I was pushing a Windows server. I'm seeing if I can switch over, but it's looking grim.

At any rate...

In case I can't switch over, would anyone happen to know of any good forum software compatible with ASP.Net runtime 1.1 (2.0 available but host company suggests against using it unless necessary)? Free would be a plus but I can stand to shell out a few bucks if there aren't any decent freebies.

Yatta · 02-11-2007, 10:06 PM

Invision Board.

And switch to Linux! NOW!

ADM · 02-12-2007, 12:44 AM

vBulletin. Eww @ Invision.

rg3 · 02-12-2007, 03:39 AM

I think you should use Linux or other Unix and stick with SMF.

DissidentRage · 02-12-2007, 11:21 AM

Good news! I just saved myself a whole bunch of money on car ins-- kidding.

Actually I managed to switch it over to Linux this morning.

ADM · 02-12-2007, 01:40 PM

heh good and I'm laughing at my post now because I didn't read your first post properly when I posted that saying vBulletin.

Anyway since you're now on linux get vBulletin

It's worth it. I got myself a owned license and don't even have a forum to use it on anymore

Though if I was going to start a forum I'd use the Vanilla forum software:
http://getvanilla.com/

Love that software.

Grudge · 02-12-2007, 06:33 PM

By the way - I'm a developer over at Simple Machines and I can tell you it most certainly does work on Windows. In fact I develop it on Windows!

It's a mute point now it seems

Yatta · 02-12-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADM

vBulletin. Eww @ Invision.

What do you have against Invision?

Nacho · 02-12-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yatta

What do you have against Invision?

Less features. Made more for anyone to just whip out a forum in a few seconds IMO.

Yatta · 02-12-2007, 10:07 PM

^ Less features? I disagree. I think it has more features than vBulletin.

ADM · 02-13-2007, 01:14 AM

vBulletin is just a better software over all. Template system, plugin system and similar are all much better than Invision's.

Zero · 02-13-2007, 03:16 AM

phpBB

that's what I'd run, it's open source and updated fequently.

Kristian Joensen · 02-13-2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yatta

^ Less features? I disagree. I think it has more features than vBulletin.

Ohh, like what ?

ADM · 02-13-2007, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

phpBB

that's what I'd run, it's open source and updated fequently.

And full of security holes and bugs.

yossa · 02-13-2007, 08:24 AM

Unlike vBulletin, or any other forum software for that matter?

NetNessie · 02-13-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADM

Though if I was going to start a forum I'd use the Vanilla forum software:
http://getvanilla.com/

Vanilla by default isn't feature rich, but has a truckload of plugins that adds all the usual changes. The upside is that its fast, small and standard compliant.

Joe Siegler · 02-13-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

phpBB

that's what I'd run, it's open source and updated fequently.

Because it's the most attacked software out there. I know they keep up with updates, but the mere fact that it's under attack all the time would be enough for me not to use phpBB.

vB costs money, yes - but you get what you pay for, IMO.

Zero · 02-13-2007, 11:37 AM

meh, whatever works, that was just my sugestion, not my department tho.

Usurper · 02-13-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

phpBB

that's what I'd run, it's open source and updated fequently.

UPDATED FREQUENTLY? Are you insane? Four+ years of security patches and no new features? I gave up waiting for "2.2" three years ago and it STILL isn't out.

Zero · 02-13-2007, 12:33 PM

Ever tried CVS or SVN? not every version needs to have new "features" I mean secireity is more important that little "doo dads".

Usurper · 02-13-2007, 01:18 PM

I'm glad you trust your live community to CVS builds.

Joe Siegler · 02-13-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

meh, whatever works, that was just my sugestion, not my department tho.

That's naive. To open yourself up for attack with a "Meh, whatever works" attitude is a foolish attitude. You deserve to be broken into with an attitude like that. Being a website operator carries more responsibility than that.

Zero · 02-13-2007, 02:26 PM

Maybe true, but then again to say a bunch of PHP scripts are buggy or insecure is not saying much either, if you take it to that level, then the code or script is as only as good as the person who coded it. By those standards one could argue that phpbb is good because it's up to the web admin to go through the script and make sure that what there running is secure.

I am not trying to start anything, and before I would deploy such a fourm I would get some random volenteers to attempt to crack it before I actully use it.The patch those holes and try again until its no longer feasible to attack a board for no "treasure". It makes more sense to use a test bed before actully just deploying it in the real world.

Joe Siegler · 02-13-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero

Maybe true, but then again to say a bunch of PHP scripts are buggy or insecure is not saying much either, if you take it to that level, then the code or script is as only as good as the person who coded it. By those standards one could argue that phpbb is good because it's up to the web admin to go through the script and make sure that what there running is secure.

As I said, you get what you pay for. I gave serious examinations of forum software when I made the switch from ubb.threads to vBulletin. It wasn't a blind change. I did real exams - this is not some half cocked response here. I state again. You get what you pay for.

There are reasons why PhpBB is attacked more than any other forum software package that I'm aware of.

rg3 · 02-13-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grudge

By the way - I'm a developer over at Simple Machines and I can tell you it most certainly does work on Windows. In fact I develop it on Windows!

Congrats for your work. I didn't know it until its recent appearance at linux.com, and I must say that it looks really really good.

ADM · 02-13-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetNessie

Vanilla by default isn't feature rich, but has a truckload of plugins that adds all the usual changes. The upside is that its fast, small and standard compliant.

Yeah I know. I'm an avid fanboy at the lussumo community, been following and part of the community since 2005.. when it was first launched at the start of the 0.9.x series:
http://lussumo.com/community/account/936/

I love the fact that it comes "vanilla" and you choose what options (plugins) you want to have on your forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yossa

Unlike vBulletin, or any other forum software for that matter?

Why yes actually. phpbb is the #1 most attacked forum software out there, purely for the fact that it's also the #1 most used forum software out there and is open source. It's a nightmare to run on a forum.. I know because I've got it running on maxpayneforums.com and while I'm no longer in charge of that forum it's overrun by spam bots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg3

Congrats for your work. I didn't know it until its recent appearance at linux.com, and I must say that it looks really really good.

Yep. SMF is fantastic. I've used it for a while and it's really great. Fantastic upgrade system as well

Samji · 02-19-2007, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADM

vBulletin is just a better software over all. Template system, plugin system and similar are all much better than Invision's.

I have to agree. Exporting PMs as XML is also the basis of how my PM reader works. Invision in my opinion is ugly. I'm happy that most of the forums I visit use vBulletin.

Not that I'm a vBulletin fanboy, there's some good looking free alternatives out there such as Vanilla and Simple Machines. If I wanted to have a forum for something I'd probably go with those due to cost.

Foxy · 02-20-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

There are reasons why PhpBB is attacked more than any other forum software package that I'm aware of.

What are those?

Nacho · 02-21-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxy

What are those?

It's easy to hack into and security isn't so tight.

Foxy · 02-22-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

It's easy to hack into and security isn't so tight.

For what reasons?

DissidentRage · 02-22-2007, 11:17 AM

For those interested I ended up installing SMF and have been using it for over a week. So far the only apparent problem is a lack of visitors.

ADM · 02-22-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxy

For what reasons?

Flawed coding and the fact that it's popular AND open source doesn't help.

http://www.theadminzone.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=1768

Hudson · 02-22-2007, 07:47 PM

I like and would choose SMF

What about YaBB? Never used it.

Usurper · 02-22-2007, 10:37 PM

YaBB kinda sucked, at least in the days when it was written in perl. Was clunky and slow, with poor skinning support. I guess the YaBB-SE (the php version) devs went on to do SMF, which seems quite nice, at least from the user's perspective.

I think I used about five different forums before I bought IPB (back when they were selling lifetime licenses). Ezboard, Ikonboard, YaBB, XMBForum, PHPBB2, then IPB. Pretty dang happy with IPB, aside from the smallish mod community.

Killd a ton · 04-06-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Siegler

That's naive. To open yourself up for attack with a "Meh, whatever works" attitude is a foolish attitude. You deserve to be broken into with an attitude like that. Being a website operator carries more responsibility than that.

Actualy why did you switch from ubb to vb?
As a user I liked ubb better though recently vb is biginning to catch up.

02-11-2007, 09:54 PM	#1
DissidentRage	Forum Software? Scary thought, probably, but I managed to register a domain name for my ragtag game development group. Once it was all said and done I asked around with a few people on what forum software would be best. I was told to try Simple Machines Forums, but I received the disheartening notice that my host server isn't compatible because SMF requires a Linux server and I was pushing a Windows server. I'm seeing if I can switch over, but it's looking grim. At any rate... In case I can't switch over, would anyone happen to know of any good forum software compatible with ASP.Net runtime 1.1 (2.0 available but host company suggests against using it unless necessary)? Free would be a plus but I can stand to shell out a few bucks if there aren't any decent freebies. __________________ Alt for djevelen!

02-11-2007, 10:06 PM	#2
Yatta	Re: Forum Software? Invision Board. And switch to Linux! NOW! __________________ Visit Duke4.net - The largest Duke Nukem fan community on the net!

02-12-2007, 12:44 AM	#3
ADM	Re: Forum Software? vBulletin. Eww @ Invision.

02-12-2007, 03:39 AM	#4
rg3	Re: Forum Software? I think you should use Linux or other Unix and stick with SMF.

02-12-2007, 11:21 AM	#5
DissidentRage	Re: Forum Software? Good news! I just saved myself a whole bunch of money on car ins-- kidding. Actually I managed to switch it over to Linux this morning. __________________ Alt for djevelen!

02-12-2007, 01:40 PM	#6
ADM	Re: Forum Software? heh good and I'm laughing at my post now because I didn't read your first post properly when I posted that saying vBulletin. Anyway since you're now on linux get vBulletin It's worth it. I got myself a owned license and don't even have a forum to use it on anymore Though if I was going to start a forum I'd use the Vanilla forum software: http://getvanilla.com/ Love that software.

02-12-2007, 06:33 PM	#7
Grudge	Re: Forum Software? By the way - I'm a developer over at Simple Machines and I can tell you it most certainly does work on Windows. In fact I develop it on Windows! It's a mute point now it seems __________________ www.p0stwh0res.com - Image hosting, image archive and more!

02-12-2007, 10:07 PM	#10
Yatta	Re: Forum Software? ^ Less features? I disagree. I think it has more features than vBulletin. __________________ Visit Duke4.net - The largest Duke Nukem fan community on the net!

02-13-2007, 01:14 AM	#11
ADM	Re: Forum Software? vBulletin is just a better software over all. Template system, plugin system and similar are all much better than Invision's.

02-13-2007, 03:16 AM	#12
Zero	Re: Forum Software? phpBB that's what I'd run, it's open source and updated fequently. __________________ I always thought Vista was an acronym - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware "I use Linux, Vista, XP and now OS X. I'm not a freak, I'm the goddamn toxic avenger." - Hudson

02-13-2007, 08:24 AM	#15
yossa	Re: Forum Software? Unlike vBulletin, or any other forum software for that matter?

02-13-2007, 11:37 AM	#18
Zero	Re: Forum Software? meh, whatever works, that was just my sugestion, not my department tho. __________________ I always thought Vista was an acronym - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware "I use Linux, Vista, XP and now OS X. I'm not a freak, I'm the goddamn toxic avenger." - Hudson

02-13-2007, 12:33 PM	#20
Zero	Re: Forum Software? Ever tried CVS or SVN? not every version needs to have new "features" I mean secireity is more important that little "doo dads". __________________ I always thought Vista was an acronym - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware "I use Linux, Vista, XP and now OS X. I'm not a freak, I'm the goddamn toxic avenger." - Hudson

02-13-2007, 01:18 PM	#21
Usurper	Re: Forum Software? I'm glad you trust your live community to CVS builds. __________________ Meadhall of the Comitatus \| RTCM

02-13-2007, 02:26 PM	#23
Zero	Re: Forum Software? Maybe true, but then again to say a bunch of PHP scripts are buggy or insecure is not saying much either, if you take it to that level, then the code or script is as only as good as the person who coded it. By those standards one could argue that phpbb is good because it's up to the web admin to go through the script and make sure that what there running is secure. I am not trying to start anything, and before I would deploy such a fourm I would get some random volenteers to attempt to crack it before I actully use it.The patch those holes and try again until its no longer feasible to attack a board for no "treasure". It makes more sense to use a test bed before actully just deploying it in the real world. __________________ I always thought Vista was an acronym - Virus Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware "I use Linux, Vista, XP and now OS X. I'm not a freak, I'm the goddamn toxic avenger." - Hudson

02-22-2007, 11:17 AM	#31
DissidentRage	Re: Forum Software? For those interested I ended up installing SMF and have been using it for over a week. So far the only apparent problem is a lack of visitors. __________________ Alt for djevelen!

02-22-2007, 07:47 PM	#33
Hudson	Re: Forum Software? I like and would choose SMF What about YaBB? Never used it. __________________ Staying Frosty Since 09/06/07 - I love you Katie <3 “Software is like sex; it's better when it's free.” - Linus Torvalds “Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.” - Calvin & Hobbes [INSERT SYSTEM SPECS THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT HERE] Last edited by Hudson; 02-22-2007 at 07:54 PM.

02-22-2007, 10:37 PM	#34
Usurper	Re: Forum Software? YaBB kinda sucked, at least in the days when it was written in perl. Was clunky and slow, with poor skinning support. I guess the YaBB-SE (the php version) devs went on to do SMF, which seems quite nice, at least from the user's perspective. I think I used about five different forums before I bought IPB (back when they were selling lifetime licenses). Ezboard, Ikonboard, YaBB, XMBForum, PHPBB2, then IPB. Pretty dang happy with IPB, aside from the smallish mod community. __________________ Meadhall of the Comitatus \| RTCM