What's your favourite forum software?

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nate

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#115364 23-Mar-2013 14:37

Looking at setting up a forum for a client, I'm quite keen on vBulletin as a few of my favourite forums run this - the issue I'm facing is my client's customers aren't the most tech savvy, so I'm wondering whether vBulletin has *too* many features.

So what do you lot like?

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#785961 23-Mar-2013 16:48

Do we get points if we say 'geekzone'?

My fav is actually www.whirlpool.net.au but that's custom software.

If you were an Internet NZ member and followed the PAG list you'd see we just had this very debate already this week.

You should join then you can review the archive on the issue.

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nate

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#785977 23-Mar-2013 17:40

PAG?

Kyanar

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#785986 23-Mar-2013 18:05

Let's just say stay far away from Wordpress. Least intuitive software ever. I used to work for a company that developed this stuff, so I have an inherent bias and will not include their product in my answer to negate that.

XenForo despite being advertised as easy to use and administer is NOT. Don't even try it if you value your sanity.
vBulletin has gone way off the rails. Not easy to use, sluggish, bloated, and generally all round bad.
phpBB is also relatively challenging, but from a user perspective is pretty simple.

I've heard some good things about intentionally slim forum software like Vanilla however. Perhaps look into something like that?

sidefx

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#785992 23-Mar-2013 18:24

Sadly it seems to be abandoned now, but as a user of it on another forum I quite like E-Blah:

http://www.eblah.com/

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networkn

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#785995 23-Mar-2013 18:29

What does Head-Fi use? It's far and away the best I've seen.

mattwnz

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#786000 23-Mar-2013 18:40

What about google groups.

The problem with forum software you install on a server, is that it is quite high maintenance. It has to be kept up to date to prevent it getting hacked and spammed. Also it has to be policed by an admin. A SaaS forum system that is hosted for you could be an idea.

mattwnz

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#786001 23-Mar-2013 18:43

networkn: What does Head-Fi use? It's far and away the best I've seen.

Possibily a new or customised version of v Bulletin by the looks of it's interface.

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DonGould

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#786004 23-Mar-2013 18:47

mattwnz: What about google groups.

The problem with forum software you install on a server, is that it is quite high maintenance. It has to be kept up to date to prevent it getting hacked and spammed. Also it has to be policed by an admin. A SaaS forum system that is hosted for you could be an idea.

Who are you giving your data to?

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

DonGould

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#786006 23-Mar-2013 18:49

nate: PAG?

Policy Advisory Group

https://internetnz.net.nz/content/members-mailing-lists

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

vectran

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#786011 23-Mar-2013 18:54

Vanilla Forums was pretty good last time I checked. Open source, simple design and a good base of features.

ArcticSilver

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#786014 23-Mar-2013 19:13

I'd still stand by http://www.simplemachines.org/

It's been around for ages and still holding up its own. Best one out of the many I have used.

lchiu7

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#786047 23-Mar-2013 20:08

I qiute like e software use on XDA. Not sure it is.

One thing abot GZ forum software I don't like (but this could be a design choic) is that a forum notification never sends you the actual forum post in the e-mail. And that makes you go to the site to chec (once again this could be a design choice to make you visit to see ads etc)

Plus I don't really care for the editor on GZ. It seems very clumsy and slow.

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Kyanar

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#786197 24-Mar-2013 09:50

ArcticSilver: I'd still stand by http://www.simplemachines.org/

It's been around for ages and still holding up its own. Best one out of the many I have used.

I've avoided SMF ever since the developers once advocated +777 permissions on the entire forum directory as a way to work around a lazy coding decision. Anyone that puts security that far down their list of priorities... shudder.

CruciasNZ

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#786219 24-Mar-2013 10:37

Avoid myBB, the support is terrible (has been the 5 years I've used it, but we're stuck on it because our members know how to use it). The code is also so jumbled that it makes it really hard to write custom alterations. However; when they release 2.0 that second issue will be negated because it's an overhaul as opposed to duct-taping new features onto old code.

Invision.PB is the best in my experience, but it costs money. Great support, smooth operation and really modern looking - but for the price you'd expect that.

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sidefx

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#786239 24-Mar-2013 11:36

mattwnz:
networkn: What does Head-Fi use? It's far and away the best I've seen.

Possibily a new or customised version of v Bulletin by the looks of it's interface.

Says at the bottom "Head-Fi.org is powered by Huddler Tech"

http://www.huddler.com/platform/

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

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