Author Topic: phpBB vs SMF - which one?  (Read 11526 times)

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Offline Jonius7

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phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« on: February 10, 2011, 09:17:14 pm »
not sure which board to put this in, just putting it here, it can be moved.

I am creating a new website and this time i want to go a few steps further than the one i have at www.jhgenius01.webs.com.
And.... I already have!

I have used dreamweaver cs5 this time instead of using a web editor and managed to get all the ftp hosting settings all right!
I even got a transparent overlay! and a floating sidebar which is still in development!!!

it's not calc related but you can visit it here:
http://www.thedarklegions.freehostingcloud.com
I hope to change the domain name soon but currently the website is in development.

Now, i want a forum and I'm not sure which coding i should use.
phpBB or SMF??? i know Omnimaga uses SMF, and i would like to use it but i would like to have a comparison first before i choose.

jhgenius01
« Last Edit: February 10, 2011, 09:18:38 pm by jhgenius01 »
Programmed some CASIO Basic in the past
DJ Omnimaga Music Discographist ;)
DJ Omnimaga Discography
My Own Music!
My Released Projects (Updated 2015/05/08)
TI-nspire BASIC
TI-nspire Hold 'em
Health Bar
Scissors Paper Rock
TI-nspire Lua
Numstrat
TI-nspire Hold 'em Lua
Transport Chooser
Secret Project (at v0.08.2 - 2015/05/08)
Spoiler For Extra To-Be-Sorted Clutter:

Spoiler For Relegated Projects:
TI-nspire BASIC
Battle of 16s (stalled) | sTIck RPG (stalled) | Monopoly (stalled) | Cosmic Legions (stalled)
Axe Parser
Doodle God (stalled while I go and learn some Axe)

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2011, 09:28:35 pm »
It's hard to tell, really. However I always prefered SMF admin panel to PHPBB, despite some things being well-hidden. Also PhpBB had a past history of having lots of security flaws. I heard they got better, but I do not know if it's true.

I would probably compare with that chart if I was you: http://www.forummatrix.org/compare/bbPress+miniBB+phpBB+SMF+vBulletin

You could also try both if you have two MySQL databases. If you use SMF, however, I would recommend version 2.0 RC4, since it has many more features (the reason why Omni sticks with 1.1.12 is because we would have to redo all forum themes from scratch.

This is a SMF 2.0 RC4 board, by the way: http://www.mtv-music-generator.com (it uses some mods too)
« Last Edit: February 10, 2011, 09:30:16 pm by DJ_O »

Offline Xanwell

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2011, 09:31:14 pm »
I've actually tried both and found that SMF's admin panel is far more user-friendly. SMF also emphasizes making it easy to install mods, giving you way more access to new features that aren't part of the base software. In addition, 2.0 has some cool new features, including sub-accounts.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2011, 09:31:38 pm by Xanwell »


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--Battle engine: 0%
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Offline Jonius7

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2011, 09:31:42 pm »
Oh, interesting, ill consider, and thanks for your response, i really appreciate it.
So i can use SMF 2.0? hmm... both are getting updated all the time, i guess it depends whether i want the one that is the best at the time or the one that will last the longest...

Ok im looking at the website...
phpbb can't do html posts? what does that exactly mean?
« Last Edit: February 10, 2011, 09:35:03 pm by jhgenius01 »
Programmed some CASIO Basic in the past
DJ Omnimaga Music Discographist ;)
DJ Omnimaga Discography
My Own Music!
My Released Projects (Updated 2015/05/08)
TI-nspire BASIC
TI-nspire Hold 'em
Health Bar
Scissors Paper Rock
TI-nspire Lua
Numstrat
TI-nspire Hold 'em Lua
Transport Chooser
Secret Project (at v0.08.2 - 2015/05/08)
Spoiler For Extra To-Be-Sorted Clutter:

Spoiler For Relegated Projects:
TI-nspire BASIC
Battle of 16s (stalled) | sTIck RPG (stalled) | Monopoly (stalled) | Cosmic Legions (stalled)
Axe Parser
Doodle God (stalled while I go and learn some Axe)

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2011, 09:38:18 pm »
One thing to point out, though, is that SMF 2.0 panel is way different than in SMF 1.1.x , but the options are located in the same categories. SMF 1.1.x may be easier to get used to, but I don't know if it's gonna continue to be maintained after 2.0 final comes out. On the other hand, 2.0 is annoying to update because you have to reupload the update files and if you screw up it's over. With 1.1.x it lets you update directly from the admin panel.

Offline leafy

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2011, 10:26:50 pm »
I've always preferred phpBB - it just feels better than SMF.
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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2011, 10:54:43 pm »
I've always preferred phpBB - it just feels better than SMF.
Same here.

Offline Madskillz

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2011, 11:46:51 pm »
I have always used phpbb, I must say it has gotten a lot better, especially the 3.0 versions. At least it seems that way. There are a lot of mods but not all work with the latest build of phpbb. I haven't really used SMF, so I cant really say. I know RevSoft tried both versions when we were just starting out and we ultimately chose phpbb. It just seemed better.

Offline Xanwell

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2011, 12:36:22 pm »
HTML posts are just ordinary posts with embedded HTML as an alternative or supplement to BBCode.

Another thing to remember about SMF 1.1.x is that you have access to the Webinstall script, which makes it way easier to install than through manual configuration like you're forced to do when installing 2.0.


Spoiler For My current projects:
Kalima's Quest: An Axe RPG [5%]
--Sprites: 40%
--Battle engine: 0%
--Map engine: 0%
--Story: 10%

Avoider [50%]
--Engine: 85%
--Enemy AI: 15%
--Graphics: 50%

Offline Munchor

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2011, 01:38:53 pm »
not sure which board to put this in, just putting it here, it can be moved.

I am creating a new website and this time i want to go a few steps further than the one i have at www.jhgenius01.webs.com.
And.... I already have!

I have used dreamweaver cs5 this time instead of using a web editor and managed to get all the ftp hosting settings all right!
I even got a transparent overlay! and a floating sidebar which is still in development!!!

it's not calc related but you can visit it here:
http://www.thedarklegions.freehostingcloud.com
I hope to change the domain name soon but currently the website is in development.

Now, i want a forum and I'm not sure which coding i should use.
phpBB or SMF??? i know Omnimaga uses SMF, and i would like to use it but i would like to have a comparison first before i choose.

jhgenius01

In my view, SMF totally outruns phpBB.

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2011, 06:31:41 pm »
HTML posts are just ordinary posts with embedded HTML as an alternative or supplement to BBCode.

Another thing to remember about SMF 1.1.x is that you have access to the Webinstall script, which makes it way easier to install than through manual configuration like you're forced to do when installing 2.0.
Generally it's good to disable HTML for regular members on any forum, for security reasons. Anyone could put an iframe in his post with a virus link or a script that crashes your browser.

I do not know what Webinstall is, but with SMF 1.1.x, you login to the admin CP, if it detects your version is out of date then you can install/download a new version there in two clicks. Otherwise you can upload mods and install them afterward. With SMF 2.0, however, you must upload the content of a zip file to the main directory containing upgraded files, then run upgrade.php. There are no 1-click installation until SMF 2.0 final comes out.

Offline Xanwell

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2011, 11:12:34 pm »
Webinstall is a PHP script that you can upload directly to the directory you want your forum to be located at and it automatically sets most everything up on its own (moving files into place, etc.) There's no equivalent for v2.0 as of yet, since - like with one-click installation - they're waiting on releasing that until 2.0 final is released.


Spoiler For My current projects:
Kalima's Quest: An Axe RPG [5%]
--Sprites: 40%
--Battle engine: 0%
--Map engine: 0%
--Story: 10%

Avoider [50%]
--Engine: 85%
--Enemy AI: 15%
--Graphics: 50%

Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2011, 11:14:24 pm »
I see, that's good I guess. As for 2.0 it's probably due to each release currently adding too many features and stuff. Skins can even break from a version to another (the main reason why Omnimaga still runs on 1.1.x)

Offline Jonius7

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2011, 05:41:47 pm »
Basically smf 2.0 is still in beta, unstable. but phpBB is up to a stable 3.0 release. hmm..
Programmed some CASIO Basic in the past
DJ Omnimaga Music Discographist ;)
DJ Omnimaga Discography
My Own Music!
My Released Projects (Updated 2015/05/08)
TI-nspire BASIC
TI-nspire Hold 'em
Health Bar
Scissors Paper Rock
TI-nspire Lua
Numstrat
TI-nspire Hold 'em Lua
Transport Chooser
Secret Project (at v0.08.2 - 2015/05/08)
Spoiler For Extra To-Be-Sorted Clutter:

Spoiler For Relegated Projects:
TI-nspire BASIC
Battle of 16s (stalled) | sTIck RPG (stalled) | Monopoly (stalled) | Cosmic Legions (stalled)
Axe Parser
Doodle God (stalled while I go and learn some Axe)

Offline Jonius7

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Re: phpBB vs SMF - which one?
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2011, 04:45:25 am »
ok it's been 12 hours... Now, i have a feeling that phpbb or SMF don't allow you to put your own theme/skin into your website so your forum integrates seamlessly with your website. you have to choose from the ones they provide. is this true?
Programmed some CASIO Basic in the past
DJ Omnimaga Music Discographist ;)
DJ Omnimaga Discography
My Own Music!
My Released Projects (Updated 2015/05/08)
TI-nspire BASIC
TI-nspire Hold 'em
Health Bar
Scissors Paper Rock
TI-nspire Lua
Numstrat
TI-nspire Hold 'em Lua
Transport Chooser
Secret Project (at v0.08.2 - 2015/05/08)
Spoiler For Extra To-Be-Sorted Clutter:

Spoiler For Relegated Projects:
TI-nspire BASIC
Battle of 16s (stalled) | sTIck RPG (stalled) | Monopoly (stalled) | Cosmic Legions (stalled)
Axe Parser
Doodle God (stalled while I go and learn some Axe)