Different forum software? Opinions needed!

[somebody231]

Hey!

I'm going to learn how to host a forum on a server (not using free forum hosting websites like forumer or forumotion, but to actually install the forum software on a computer and leave the computer running). This way I wouldn't even need FTP clients... ever.

Now there's one problem. I've heard of mainly phpBB and vBulletin. vBulletin costs money so it's out of the question.
Then there's phpBB which seems to be the 1# free open source solution.
And now I've heard of "Simple Machines Forums" and "myBB".

Please give me some opinions and advice?! I don't wish to make a shift and I'm running out of time. I have to put my forum up on my server within a week or so, including configuration and customization.

 

[MistressValerie1]

YaBB is free (open source) and allows attachments and some customization. I find it to be serviceable, though not ideal for a multimedia-based forum.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

I was always a fan of phpBB. The older releases were finnicky as Hell with what release of PHP you used, though. I don't know if this changed. Back in the day I ran the crap on a colocated server with Red Hat Linux and it was an absolute bitch to make sure that the version of php installed was one that phpBB liked, then getting mySQL to play nice with it all.

It's not impossible, mind you, but you should look forward to putzing around with the shittiest config files ever devised by mankind or aliens in this or any other dimension.

Get a tasty howto and RTFM no matter what forum software you go with.

Re: choices, YaBB is pretty lightweight and fairly fast, but I remember that it would spawn about 90 quadrillion instances of the php interpreter thread on Red Hat, so if your box doesn't have some serious RAM to throw at it, it's not much faster than phpBB.

 

[MacD]

but to actually install the forum software on a computer and leave the computer running). This way I wouldn't even need FTP clients... ever.

A tip. Calculate what you pay for electricity if your computer runs all day. You should find webhosting offers for much less money.

 

[somebody231]

A tip. Calculate what you pay for electricity if your computer runs all day. You should find webhosting offers for much less money.

Trust me on this one: I don't have to 🙂
The server isn't physically mine. I just have access to it.
Think of this as an assignment of mine. Won't go into details, but the electricity bill isn't a concern. No subscriptions are to be made (like with vBulletin).

Haven't heard of yaBB.

There sure seems to be alot of different forum software out there :blink

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

Mmmm...some wuvely tickle animations in your sig there somebody. Wouldn't mind any of those luscious ladies going at me with a duster. Nope. Not at all. ^_~