geeky tutorials, tips, guides and reviews
Having played with the script for a few weeks, I can tell you that Vanilla offers a great and unique forum package for your website. A few weeks ago, I set it up for the forums I added to Firefox Facts and I really could not be happier with it. It seems to almost do everything that I need, plus it keeps things really straight to the point. Vanilla might be the best forum script for people who don’t want their forums to look like the next guy’s.
A fast and lightweight PHP-powered set of forums, PunBB is a script you may not have heard much about but I can promise it is well worth looking into. The goal of this script is to be faster, smaller and less graphically overpowering in comparison with other forum scripts out there. That alone makes it a good option if you are on a shared web hosting account.
The requirements to get PunBB are fairly light too:
To install, all you need to do is upload the script to the location you want it on your web hosting account, and then run the install.php from the forum’s root directory, then follow the on screen instructions.
One thing I don’t like is the fact that they have various versions of the script to download from the main page. You have PunBB 1.3 and PunBB 1.2. This is an annoyance for me with several scripts out there. Personally I like just having one download link with the latest version right there in front of my face.
PunBB is also extendable. After you install it, you can take your choice of which extensions you want. They can do anything from giving you a CAPTCHA to register and post to adding poll-like features.
Give PunBB a shot. Why? Well, as they put it because less is really more.
Bonus - be sure to check out our other free forum script reviews!
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:
Via a request I got via e-mail I recently posted a tutorial for Lunarpages on how to install bbPress onto your run-of-the-mill Linux-based hosting account. I have to say, I had never used bbPress before till then, and I like it a lot.
For those of you who may not recognize the name, bbPress comes from the creators of WordPress. As they make note of via their web site, “bbPress is focused on web standards, ease of use, ease of integration, and speed. We’re focused on keeping things as small and light as possible while still allowing for great add on features through our extensive plugin system.” Think of it as WordPress for forums – but a little less popular than WordPress is today.
You have plugins and themes there too, so you can customize the forums as much or as little as you like. Personally, I kind of liked them how they were via the default install. I am sure though I’d want to add something eventually though, so nice to know the option is there.
If you want to try out the back end and front end demos, head over to OpenSourceCMS.com. They have a working demo of both up for you to tinker with and see if you like it or not. Those who have used WordPress before will be greated with a very familiar interface. You can download bbPress or get more information at bbPress.org.
Bonus - be sure to check out our other free forum script reviews!
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Mitch Keeler is nothing more than your average Joe trying to leave his mark on the world though both his professional work and his online projects, articles, podcasts and more.
