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Discussion in 'Forum software usage' started by Jimmy, Jan 22, 2017.

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  1. Jan 22, 2017 #1
    Jimmy

    Jimmy Well-Known Member

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    Not sure if this is the right forum for this post...

    I have a bunch of forum domain names I want to start using. Going to setup 1 server with a bunch of forums. I wanted to start with a free forum software that can be converted to IPS in the event that the forum takes off.

    Anyone have any thoughts between MyBB, PHPBB, or SMF?

    I found a nice nginx conf file for PHPBB which I was going to convert over to centmin mod.

    Thoughts on the software?
     
  2. Jan 22, 2017 #2
    eva2000

    eva2000 Administrator Staff Member

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    Yup right forum :)

    Probably for long term operations, you want to start on a free forum software which is importable into a paid IP.Board or Xenforo based software. So work backwards. Decide on your paid forum solution and check out their supported importers and see which free forum software is supported :)
     
  3. Jan 22, 2017 #3
    Jimmy

    Jimmy Well-Known Member

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  4. Jan 23, 2017 #4
    BoostN

    BoostN Active Member

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    Flarum looks nice. But it's still beta and no import/export configurations out there.

    discourse.org looks good as well to, also free.
     
  5. Jan 23, 2017 #5
    Colin

    Colin Premium Member Premium Member

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    Discourse as it's ruby based will consume more resources. It also oddly has no IPB importer, not an issue here I know. It's also a different kind of 'forum'. If the plan is to migrate working outcomes to IPB, I think the jarr from discourse to IPB would be too much. I like both of them. As a ruby developer; discourse is ruby, I know the pain and joy and could easily work with it and enjoy it. It also uses ember on the front end. That said it's far more 'like facebook' so it might gain traction where others don't.

    However I've opted for the most part to stick with the IPB/XF generation of forums. The next generation which discourse is certainly a founding member of, will come in due course.

    For my money @Jimmy, I'd go with the most up to date release / and or basic responsive working templates. I've thought about similar. I've got a half dozen good areas, my knowledge is good, but strong incumbent/dominant players. I'd actually want to do something different from a plain forum to differentiate. But that isn't off the shelf software; thankfully, so it's a bit more of a commitment to 'test'.

    Good luck.
     
  6. Jan 23, 2017 #6
    Jimmy

    Jimmy Well-Known Member

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    I've been a member of the discourse meta forum for a long time. I like where the project is heading, but like you said, there isn't an importer for IPB. Also, setting up multiple discourse forums on the same server is a little tricky, but not impossible. I really want the install to be upload, populate config, create database, etc. a traditional php easy install.

    It's hard to get a feel for which of the previously mentioned PHP based forum software is the best... if there is a best. At this point I'm leaning toward PHPBB.
     
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