PhpBB Vs VBulletin

[Vexom]

What do you think? I need a forum, dont really want to pay £60 quid for one, PhpBB is my option, is it MUCH WORSE?

HabBeats.co.uk

Moved by Jamesy (Forum Moderator): From "Design and Development" - Please post in the correct forum next time.

[Irrorate]

It depends on what you want. Are you going to be independent with your forum (i.e. any modifications are done by yourself) or do you want a large community where mods are readily available, supported and reliable.
Personally, I would choose vBulletin - purely because it's easier to modify (plugins), easier to control and good support (vbulletin.org has the full community with 30,000+ members helping you with issues).

You could try out both - begin using phpBB with your community - see how they feel about it. If they prefer a vBulletin - go for it.

Might I remind you that vB4 is coming out soon (It's currently in Alpha testing stage), so maybe you'd want to wait until that's released (although I believe it's going to be cheaper for existing license holders to upgrade instead of buying a new license).

Oh, also, vBulletin.com issue free demo's I believe (if you've not used vBulletin before on the admin side of things), check here.

[Chippiewill]

PHPBB, I will always and forever use it. The community is nice, friendly and always willing to help you out. The code is also very efficient (Far more so than VB3) and it is very customisable. E.g. You can decide on which cache you want the forum to use, it's own or one of 5 other cache scripts. (For different speed and server load reasons). The other good thing is it is all open source so you can see all the code and customise it to your hearts content.

[Jackbee]

vBulletin - mainly due to the amount of amazing add-ons you can get.

[Irrorate]

PHPBB, I will always and forever use it. The community is nice, friendly and always willing to help you out.

vBulletin is the same, I'm not sure PHPBB has 348464 (checked on .org) members though. Also, vBulletin has 2 separate forums depending on your issue (.com for forum-related non-modified questions, .org for modifications)

The code is also very efficient (Far more so than VB3) and it is very customisable. E.g. You can decide on which cache you want the forum to use, it's own or one of 5 other cache scripts. (For different speed and server load reasons).

I agree that vBulletin's code isn't efficient - I've had that discussion with a friend (Dinnerbone to be specific). It still works though. vBulletin has 2 options: Store in database or store in filesystem. vBulletin is efficient in it's options - you can disable anything etc. Didn't know PHPBB had the memcache option. Still, AJAX features ftw

The other good thing is it is all open source so you can see all the code and customise it to your hearts content.

vBulletin's code is 100% open sourced also (how do you think about 5,000 modifications have been made, and vBulletin's nulled?). vB4's code can be previewed on vBulletin.(com/org) if you want to view how they're coding things - as well as screenshots. Last time I used phpBB was when it was phpBB3 (have they got a 4 yet?) and I never really liked it.
If you do get vBulletin - might I recommend not installing (or at least, don't expect to keep) any modifications. The whole syntax is being changed which will make majority of modifications unusable.


Whatever you choose, DON'T GO TO IPB

[Chippiewill]

vBulletin is the same, I'm not sure PHPBB has 348464 (checked on .org) members though. Also, vBulletin has 2 separate forums depending on your issue (.com for forum-related non-modified questions, .org for modifications)

I agree that vBulletin's code isn't efficient - I've had that discussion with a friend (Dinnerbone to be specific). It still works though. vBulletin has 2 options: Store in database or store in filesystem. vBulletin is efficient in it's options - you can disable anything etc. Didn't know PHPBB had the memcache option. Still, AJAX features ftw

vBulletin's code is 100% open sourced also (how do you think about 5,000 modifications have been made, and vBulletin's nulled?). vB4's code can be previewed on vBulletin.(com/org) if you want to view how they're coding things - as well as screenshots. Last time I used phpBB was when it was phpBB3 (have they got a 4 yet?) and I never really liked it.
If you do get vBulletin - might I recommend not installing (or at least, don't expect to keep) any modifications. The whole syntax is being changed which will make majority of modifications unusable.


Whatever you choose, DON'T GO TO IPB

I laughed

vBulletin's code is 100% open sourced also

If it was open source it would be free :rolleyes:

vBulletin is the same, I'm not sure PHPBB has 348464 (checked on .org) members though. Also, vBulletin has 2 separate forums depending on your issue (.com for forum-related non-modified questions, .org for modifications)

It has more intelligent members, they all tend to be able to code proficiantly. PHPBB3 has two official forums and one widely used mods forum.

Last time I used phpBB was when it was phpBB3 (have they got a 4 yet?) and I never really liked it.

You may have tried it before the Gold release... They are currently working on phpbb3.5

Whatever you choose, DON'T GO TO IPB

No, you are wrong and obvousily have never tried it. VB is popular among habbo fansites because it is cheap and commercial grade. IPB is total win. Phpbb3 is the best open-source forum script.

[BoyBetterKnow]

Don't bother with a forum.

I would never leave HabboxForum for another forum with 5-100 users lol. UNLESS the web dev section was better than ours.

[Irrorate]

Oh, something I forgot to point out:

If it was open source it would be free :rolleyes:

Open sourced != free.

Majority of PHP (well - any web based) code is open sourced (unless obfuscated).

I can admit that vBulletin's code isn't 100% efficient - but as this thread is about opinions then I gave my opinion.

First question of this thread was: What do you think?

Above is what I think.

[RastaLulz]

I prefer myBB over all forums, as it's easy, simple, and effective. First, it doesn't have the cost of vBulliten, and seems more friendly than phpBB, to me. Also, the majority of skins, and modifications are free, and easy to implement.

[nooblah123]

VB ftw