Can I make a forum?

[CommittedC0der]

OK well I was wondering since I just got a simple pre-made forum thing set up on my website, Can I a make real forum like CC or Coder Island with something like phpbb or SMF or do I have to make a whole forum from the ground up?
I also noticed James had said that he switched the forum over to VBulletin which I think is the same thing as phpbb and SMF so is that just for better control over the forum?

Well that may have been a little confusing but I really want to know is does a forum have to be built from the ground of with PHP(or whatever) or can I use one of those products for a good result?

Thanks, Tanner.

[James.H]

Codecall like many other big forums have always used pre-made forum software such as vbulletin, SMF etc.. because there more powerfull, cost-effective (in comparison to creating your own forum) and highly customizable, though each forum software is different so it's good to stick with one as it's difficult to move between forums (we upgraded forum versions not forum software)

I created my own forum for my rpg site - you can see the forum here: http://k5p.com/rpg_script/forum.php

It took me hours to make this simple forum and I was still using code snippets here and there so I can't imagine how long it would take to replicate a forum from scratch.

I definitley recommend you stick with a pre-made forum software Tanner, PHPBB is good especially as it's free!

[Bioshox]

If you are considering coding the forum software from the ground up using PHP, don't bother, there aint much use in coding your own forum system, just go with PHPBB or SMF both of which are very good forum solutions.

Forum software such as vBullitin and Invision Power Board boast a ridiculous amount of features, support and upgrades that free board software doesn't, PHPBB is probably the best free forum software available today, the only downfall is there are not many available free themes for it, and the ones that are available... suck.

What exactly is your forum going to be about? I also have a forum for my company http://www.fusionstrike.co.uk/forum I use PHPBB.

[Davide]

How the hell you have the same ideas as i do? I just started to code one myself (it will take me years, but i need to learn PHP and SQL so i have no choice )

I don't want PHPBB because it is hard to modify (i know that from Rabih CI's admin that needs days just to change design). Also vBulletin isn't free.

Anyway Tanner, if you planning to vreate a forum, learn how a forum works, and then learn PHP/ASP and SQL for databases. It's not easy i tell you, but it's really fun .

[CommittedC0der]

Re: Can I make a forum?

Codecall like many other big forums have always used pre-made forum software such as vbulletin, SMF etc.. because there more powerfull, cost-effective (in comparison to creating your own forum) and highly customizable, though each forum software is different so it's good to stick with one as it's difficult to move between forums (we upgraded forum versions not forum software)

I created my own forum for my rpg site - you can see the forum here: http://k5p.com/rpg_script/forum.php

It took me hours to make this simple forum and I was still using code snippets here and there so I can't imagine how long it would take to replicate a forum from scratch.

I definitley recommend you stick with a pre-made forum software Tanner, PHPBB is good especially as it's free!

OK cool I maybe switch to PHPBB before I get SMF all set up as it seems it has way more features +rep

Re: Can I make a forum?

If you are considering coding the forum software from the ground up using PHP, don't bother, there aint much use in coding your own forum system, just go with PHPBB or SMF both of which are very good forum solutions.

Forum software such as vBullitin and Invision Power Board boast a ridiculous amount of features, support and upgrades that free board software doesn't, PHPBB is probably the best free forum software available today, the only downfall is there are not many available free themes for it, and the ones that are available... suck.

What exactly is your forum going to be about? I also have a forum for my company http://www.fusionstrike.co.uk/forum I use PHPBB.

I had nothing in mind I just wondered if I could do it with those products.

Nice forums BTW.