why phpBB

marco · Posted: 4/18/2006, 7:49 pm Post subject: why phpBB

Patrick,

any reason why you are using phpBB over VBulletin?

thanks

Nate · Posted: 4/19/2006, 7:59 am Post subject:

My guess, it's free. Plus once you get to know something you tend to stick with it.

Me personally, I've never liked the look of VB. Looks bulky. PHPBB has always had a sleaker look. Of course I also use IPB, which is just as powerful as VB, IMO.
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Patrick · Administrator

Yeah, both of what Nate said. Never underestimate familiarity. I know that we may talk about using the best, etc. but the best is very relative and considers everything, including familarity. Familiarity with a script can be huge because you can feel more confident with it and what you can do with it. Having used it for more than 5 years now, I'm very familar with phpBB, so that helps.

A little bit of it is it being free, yes. If I can save $160 plus $30 a year or whenever I need to update and feel that I can achieve an effect that serves me to a point where I don't feel that amount of money is worth it for me, that certainly matters. If phpBB wasn't around, it is quite possible that I would be using another free alternative.

In the end, I've always said that if you choose a good script (phpBB, vBulletin, others), it's your work that'll determine success.
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marco · Posted: 4/19/2006, 12:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks Boss.

Cross_+_Flame · Posted: 4/19/2006, 12:46 pm Post subject:

I agree. I know there may be better solutions out there, but I find creative ways to make phpbb and drupal work for any situation. That's the sign of a good product: flexibility and learnability.
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dojo · Posted: 4/20/2006, 7:39 am Post subject:

Agreed with Patrick. VB is not good if the admin is not good. From all the VB and IPB forums too many use a default skin and have done nothing to make the forums better. This is why I consider them a fiasco, even if they run a paid script.

I am using phpBB too and I don't see why I should pay when I can install everything I need and mod the theme as much as I can. Seeing Patrick's sites has also been an inspiration. If a big forum (as karateforums is for instance) is still using phpBB and could have VB in 2 minutes if Patrick wanted this, then it's true: we make the forums, not the scripts. Instead of just bragging we have a 200 USD script, we should all learn to work the script we have (free or paid) as much as we can to offer our users a great features collection and everything they need.

End of rant Wink

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Truestar · Moderator

I use phpBB not only because it's free, but because it's flexible as Patrick has stated in the past. There are so many modifications you can make to phpBB, and if you can't find one I'm sure it's not [b]too[/i] difficult to make one. Not to mention the styling. Styling for phpBB is very easy. I couldn't do it for the life of me but I know it isn't that difficult.

It's free, flexible, and has so many MOD's you can turn phpBB into nearly anything. Smile

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Nick · Posted: 4/21/2006, 6:59 am Post subject:

Queen.Zeal · Posted: 4/24/2006, 1:08 am Post subject:

I'd rather have all the features built-in than install a ton of hacks (MOD's, whatever). Installing hacks means that not only do you have to update to the latest version of phpBB when that comes out, but also to the latest version of some hack when that comes out. And unfortunately, there isn't a really good way to keep track of whether or not hacks are updated. Atleast no uniform way.

Ex0dus · Posted: 4/29/2006, 11:56 am Post subject:

You are right about that zeal (on the updating) ^_<

However I get a strange and good feeling of accomplishment when i do things myself.

If im not able to mod things then i feel somewhat constrained as to what exactly I can do with my boards. Besides if a system doesnt come prebuilt with everything you wanted, then youll have to make things yourself anyway to get what you want out of it.

The thing phpbb does lack is a uniform updating system. It also doesnt take much into consideration if authors drop their projects and version numbering is a bit weird.

There also is the fact that the phpbb community is fragmented, so it is sometimes very difficult to get everything in a few core locations. Fixing these things though is down to the mod authors themselves and some dedicated users, phpbb couldnt handle such a project ^_^

-Ex0dus
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