My Favorite PHP-Based Forum Software
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:19 pm
My favorite PHP-based forum package out there is now PunBB. I hear that FluxBB is a fork of it, but the two are cross-pollinating each other for some reason and PunBB was the only one I could get a private messaging extension working properly on.
Now, one thing I don't like to see in projects is a mixing of HTML, SQL, and PHP. I like everything in its place as much as possible, although I realize it's not always possible. I also don't like to see forum and blog packages have heavy dependencies on other things because sometimes those other things can get upgraded and break their project. So, I like to see some of these forum and blog packages to be as self-contained as much as possible.
Although PunBB does mix HTML, SQL, and PHP, they do so with grace, which I have rarely seen before. They keep the file and database table count very low but not too low, they comment the code well, and they do things consistently. Sure, I'd like to see a change in their future where they separate the HTML, SQL, and PHP a bit more, but this will do for now, relatively speaking. When you look under the hood with phpBB, IB, Phorum, vBulletin, SMF, and many of the top packages out there, SMF comes fairly close to being easily customizable and understandable, but Pun/Flux beat them all in my humble opinion. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself.
As for dependencies, the only thing you need with Pun/Flux is PHP5 and MySQL5.
So, there are some popular things people like to do with these forum packages:
* Build a separate site (or integrate with a package like, say, WordPress) where the forum software is a separate directory and listed in the main nav. Then, they provide a login from the homepage which also activates the forum software.
* Build gadgets that draw content from the forum or let one interact with it, such as a way to interact with private messages, or see the last forum topics.
* Make all blog commenting go into the forum system so that it's available in both places.
* Switch the BBCode editor with a rich editor like TinyMCE.
* Retheme the forum to match the rest of the site.
I've just gotten off a project where I did all of the above and am getting paid for it. If you're freelancing and looking for cash, this is something I recommend you get familiar with because it's a popular client request.
Now, one thing I don't like to see in projects is a mixing of HTML, SQL, and PHP. I like everything in its place as much as possible, although I realize it's not always possible. I also don't like to see forum and blog packages have heavy dependencies on other things because sometimes those other things can get upgraded and break their project. So, I like to see some of these forum and blog packages to be as self-contained as much as possible.
Although PunBB does mix HTML, SQL, and PHP, they do so with grace, which I have rarely seen before. They keep the file and database table count very low but not too low, they comment the code well, and they do things consistently. Sure, I'd like to see a change in their future where they separate the HTML, SQL, and PHP a bit more, but this will do for now, relatively speaking. When you look under the hood with phpBB, IB, Phorum, vBulletin, SMF, and many of the top packages out there, SMF comes fairly close to being easily customizable and understandable, but Pun/Flux beat them all in my humble opinion. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself.
As for dependencies, the only thing you need with Pun/Flux is PHP5 and MySQL5.
So, there are some popular things people like to do with these forum packages:
* Build a separate site (or integrate with a package like, say, WordPress) where the forum software is a separate directory and listed in the main nav. Then, they provide a login from the homepage which also activates the forum software.
* Build gadgets that draw content from the forum or let one interact with it, such as a way to interact with private messages, or see the last forum topics.
* Make all blog commenting go into the forum system so that it's available in both places.
* Switch the BBCode editor with a rich editor like TinyMCE.
* Retheme the forum to match the rest of the site.
I've just gotten off a project where I did all of the above and am getting paid for it. If you're freelancing and looking for cash, this is something I recommend you get familiar with because it's a popular client request.