[Stu]

Im looking to build a forum and have had a few packages suggested to me, unfortunately vbulletin isnt on the cards due to lack of funds.

what does everyone think the better package out of phpbb and SMF. I've seen both work but what are the pros and cons of both?

[Hengis]

Welcome to PCHF Stu,

I have used both in the past.

PHPBB has a LOT of hacks and add-ons but for me, it was too open to security problems and has been easily comprimised in the past.

SMF is a great free forum package. Not as many add-ons as PHPBB but the support is excellent and the community were very helpful to me in the early days.

Before you consider starting a forum, make sure that you will have the visitors to make it worthwhile. You will put a lot of effort in to the project so you will want something that is popular and informative - or you are wasting your time. Most forums fold within the first 6 months due to lack of visitors/content/conversations.

I ran PCHF on an SMF forum package in the distant past and it was robust, flexible, good-looking and easy to use (both for Admin and Members).
Hope this helps.

[Stu]

thanks for that, alot of people on other forums have said phpbb, but i personally think this is because of lack of use and/or the package not being as wide spread.

by looking through both online help forums it does seem as you said phpbb has more hacks, but on the other hand smf seems to have alot of up and coming coders trying to make their mark and producing plently of hacks each day, which in time will even out the two IMO.

I read that smf has a hack installer so the is no need to mess about manually altering php coding, is this effective?

[Hengis]

yes it is - I used it towards the end of my time with SMF and had no problems.

[Stu]

think ill be using that then, roll on friday then i think ill be gettin in touch with 1&1 for some hosting

[adrian_g]

phpbb is now not as open as it use to be too security problems and if you where to wait for phpbb3 to come out go to a host with MYSQL 5 and php 5 which have optimised bouth the databases and MYSQL it runs so fast it's quit surpising should be very good when it comes out. i have tested so many and found a few i like but i have never heard of smf so i will give it a go.

just out of intrest would you pay for the hosting of the forum on a web hosting company web servers

[Hengis]

Ouch!! Not 1and1!!! We have recently moved away from them after VERY poor service and server performance!

We now have a dedicated server with another company - hunt around - avoid 1and1 !!