Setting up a web forum
Sun, 2007-04-01 14:34 — Terry
There is a possibility that I will be involved in setting up a web forum. I'm doing some research so that I can at least assess proposals and make some.
So far, it looks to me as though Simple Machines Forum is the best software to use. I am perplexed over the issue of hosting.
I would appreciate any thoughts anyone can offer.
Sponsored by:
Web forum
Hi Terry,
Sorry I hadn't noticed this post sooner.
I've never heard of Simple Machines Forum, and the license it's published under is definitely non-free (it doesn't permit distribution of derivative versions). I would be reluctant to rely on anything not widely used and non-free.
Check out the Wikipedia Comparison of Forum Software.
If it's for a non-profit organisation I could probably set you up a Drupal-based forum site and host it gratis for you. (Please don't take this site as indicative of what can be done with Drupal. It's way overdue for some attention.)
Matthew.
Inching forward a millimetre at a time
The issue was 'forumised' (1) to a standstill but a small group is now engaged in a more focussed and, contrary to appearances, productive discussion here. The main topics are "Users Group" and "The New Forum should be?"
I'm the loud mouth in the discussion. DrewJensen is the one with the bit between his teeth and experimenting with Drupal and Phorum. Hosting may be covered but could you help with design, Matthew, if we get that far?
(1) forumise (U.S. forumize), v.t., discuss (a subject) interminably without advancing towards a conclusion; treat (a subject) as being of academic significance only; postpone dealing with (a subject) indefinitely (invented word; provenance noranthon of oooforum.org)
phpBB
Hi Terry,
This is a bit late, you have probably gone ahead and finished installing your forum by now....
I have in the past used phpBB (http://www.phpbb.com/) which was pretty good. It seems to be very popular, the developers are very active and it is licensed under the GPL.
cheers