SMF, or otherwise known as Simple Machines Forum, is a free professional software package that will let you get yourself an online community setup in minutes. I had not heard much about this software till I started working for Lunarpages, since it is what they use to run their forums. Ever since though, I have been sold. It is a powerful, and customizable forum script.
This forum script uses PHP and MySQL to run the backend, so that means that any shared hosting account should be able to host it. Here are a few more features:
- Comprehensive template system.
- Advanced permission and user management.
- Supports multiple languages at once.
- Open and well-documented source code.
- Tracking of new and old unread topics, not just from your last visit.
- Designed for optimal performance and scalability.
- Multi-media output.
Here are a few screenshots of it in action. First we have the administrator interface:
Next, we see how the forums would look after you have installed SMF:
If you are looking for support, there are many ways to ask for help. You have the FAQs, the SMF community, or searching on your own via their web site. They also have an online manual which has many of its features and other details documented.
First time users might want to check out how to Install SMF or check through the various converters, so you can go from another forum script (like phpBB, vBulletin, IPB, and others to SMF).
Simple Machines Forum is free to use, and easy to customize. If you are searching for a forum script of your own, you should definitely give it a shot.
Bonus - be sure to check out our other free forum script reviews!
