What are the differences between BBS software?

[IceBlaZe]

oh??

http://www.e-zonemedia.com/fusetalk

I still preffer phpBB/vBull by a lot though.

 

[baseballtwin86]

Originally posted by Black Fluffy Lion
Then, when phpBB 2.2 is released, phpBB will become the most popular.

BFL, do you have any idea when 2.2 is going to be ready? Sometime later this fall maybe? Thats going to be really great, with a better User CP, Global Announcements, Sub-Forums, and hopefully a portal . Can't wait for that release. 2.0.2 is going to be released in the next few days though.

Does one have to pay for updates to VBull, or are they free once one buys it for the first time?

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

Originally posted by IceBlaZe


http://www.e-zonemedia.com/fusetalk

I still preffer phpBB/vBull by a lot though.

hmmm me too.

BFL, do you have any idea when 2.2 is going to be ready?

When it's done.

Thats going to be really great, with a better User CP, Global Announcements, Sub-Forums, and hopefully a portal . Can't wait for that release. 2.0.2 is going to be released in the next few days though.

it is??

 

[baseballtwin86]

Well, it says any day now, so hopefully soon. And it seems like one always get the generic answer "when it's done", which I can respect as the developers work very hard on the releases. Here is the thread about phpBB 2.0.2:

http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32904

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

'Any day now', as its say, could be any day from now it doesn't say 'any day soon now'

and btw I love how you refer to kanuck as 'it'

 

[spycatcher34]

I've experinced vbull and phpbb both from an admin PoV and I must say I got lost in vbulls admin panel. And no not because it's big but because it's confusing. What phpBB doesnt have compared to vbull is either a) not nessacary be cause it is a useless feature b) not out yet read 2.2 . So really I can't see where gonzo get this vbull rocks crap cos well it doesnt. Also phpbb has a **** ( ) lot of hacks as well.

 

[Sodapop]

Tsk Tsk Tsk... Not hacks. Mods. And I have to agree with spy, since I was able to see vbull inside and out as well, phpbb's admin panel is simply less confusing.

Positive for vbull : Attachments. Still that's planned features for phpbb, but it's really a big advantage, though there is a mod that allow it for phpbb.

Negative for vbull : (Personnal opinion) I don't like the template system. Second thing is the number of query. That tends to slow things down since the number of query is a lot higher than phpbb. Finally, the price.

Positive for phpBB : Reduced number of query, ease of use.

Negative : A few features missing, but that are going to be fixed with the next major release, or that already have been added by mods.

Overall comparison : In fact, they are almost the same thing. I'd say that the template system for phpbb is a bit better, as you really don't need any php stuff in. I got messed up with vbull's. Vbull has a few more features, but also cost a lot more (compared to free) But overall, they are almost the same.

 

[starlifter]

There are some interesting things in this thread! It seems amazing that one BBS does not have a provision for attachments. That seems like a basic function.

 

[Sodapop]

Well with permissions and that kind of stuff it can be somehow hard to code, even for an experienced coder. Anyway, there are always drawbacks to multiple uploads. And just like here at cfc, a site ends up with too much attachments stuff. CFC found its solution with the upload thing TF added. Anyway, the base of the forum software doesn't really absolutely require the upload function, though it's a really useful one. But anyway, the fact is that vbulletin is a more mature software than phpbb, that was released only a few months ago. Just let them the time to develop more stuff

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

vBull decided to not give me my password back so I've been unable to respond for a couple of days...sorry for the lack of vBull bashing recently. so now is time to make up for it...

spy:

I've experinced vbull and phpbb both from an admin PoV and I must say I got lost in vbulls admin panel.And no not because it's big but because it's confusing.

For once I totally agree with spy. vBull admin is hell to get around. Eveything is layed out higeldypiggldy (spelling doesn't matter on fake words ) and there's so much crap lying around. Now this layout deal isn't an opinion thing. Go to the admin demo at www.vbulletin.com...now can you honestly tell me that that admin panel is

a) nicely layed out
b) easy to use
c) looks nice??

No you can't unless you are blind.

What phpBB doesnt have compared to vbull is either a) not nessacary be cause it is a useless feature b) not out yet read 2.2 .

Again, suprisingly spy is right...I will admit now that vBull has a very powerful admin panel once you've got used to the clunky interface/overlapping buttons etc...but 2.2 is looking truly amazing. I've seen the dev admin panel - it's as nicely layed out as the current one and has a hell of a lot more features too. The permissions system comparable to vBull, but with phpBB you can actually get around the admin panel without tripping over ugly writing and screwy buttons.

So really I can't see where gonzo get this vbull rocks crap cos well it doesnt. Also phpbb has a **** ( ) lot of hacks as well.

No, phpBB has no hacks...it does have a number of mods though

soda:

Tsk Tsk Tsk... Not hacks. Mods.

Positive for vbull : Attachments. Still that's planned features for phpbb, but it's really a big advantage, though there is a mod that allow it for phpbb.

Ah, attachments...I've never liked them and never will. Why??

a) it takes up bandwith/space
b) people decided to use the fora upload system as their own personal webspace and then hotlink it
c) multiple security holes/server config errors etc

basically, it's a system just waiting to be abused in some way.

Negative for vbull : (Personnal opinion) I don't like the template system.

Now this isn't an opinion thing. vBull templateing engine is WEAK, fullstop. This is the thing that phpBB does the best in - templates. phpBB templating system is great. it's very easy to use, and create new styles. You don't get intermingled php and html or anything. Plus, phpBB is definately the best looking board out there (ok, that last point is an opinion thing)...but you do get the best templates with phpBB, both free and paid for...vereor, subblue, kail's work on templates is amazing...

and things are only getting better template wise. for 2.2, the templating engine will be based on smarty (if you have no idea what I'm on about, look at http://smarty.php.net/). Smarty is, IMHO, the greatest templating engine ever. I've seen some of the first steps of 2.2's templates and it simply blows all other competition away.

Whatever you think about phpBB, it's templating system is and will be the greatest.

Second thing is the number of query. That tends to slow things down since the number of query is a lot higher than phpbb.

Yep, vBull is full of queries. Perhaps it's just because they like to break their queries down (I don't know since I've never had a chance to look at the source code - I'd probably be sued by Jelsoft if I did ) but vBull definately has more queries...20 - 30 to display a topic compared to 10-20 with phpBB. But phpBB isn't that great on speed/queries. If your server can't take the amount of queries with phpBB then it's pathetic. I will say though that invb is faster and has less queries than phpBB...this is quite impressive seeing as it uses attachments which tend to take up a lot of queires.

Finally, the price.

Well not even gonzo can say that vBull is cheaper than phpBB

Positive for phpBB : ...ease of use.

Another strong point for phpBB - ease of use. phpBB is soooooo easy to install. No chmod this, chmod that like with invb, just download, unzip, upload and run install. I have heard many people who have come over from vBull/snitz/ubb/yabb saying about how easy it is to install and run phpBB. And if you can't figure it out then I honestly think that phpBB's community fora is the best support place there is...

You ask a question at phpBB.com, chances are it'll be answered in under 10 minutes. without boasting or anything, phpBB support is the best there is. One thing that bugged me when I was having a look at invb was that they had paid services for support! That's almost as bad as vBull who have 'special offers' where they will offer real support of install the fora for a small fee of $100.

invb - open source?? after the support do, I'm afraid not

Negative : A few features missing, but that are going to be fixed with the next major release, or that already have been added by mods.

Overall comparison : In fact, they are almost the same thing.

that is wrong, wrong, wrong! I'm offended by that

I'd say that the template system for phpbb is a bit better,

That is also wrong wrong wrong! phpBB template system is a lot better.

But overall, they are almost the same.

wrong!

sl:

There are some interesting things in this thread! It seems amazing that one BBS does not have a provision for attachments. That seems like a basic function

not really. only a small handful of bbs have attachment support. hell, I read an article the other day which praised phpBB because it had a profile system!! oooh, how advanced.

phpBB, vBull, invb are all at the top end of the bbs world. Attachments are not an ordinary feature...as I said, having a profile isn't an ordinary feature with most bbs.

But anyway, the fact is that vbulletin is a more mature software than phpbb, that was released only a few months ago. Just let them the time to develop more stuff

phpBB is only a few of months younger than vBull

 

[baseballtwin86]

My goodness, the VBull admin panel has pages and pages of options . Way too many IMHO . The one thing that annoys me in VBull is the lack of an indication that a thread has been read. They stay unread forever and ever even if I have already read it, then, all of a sudden, all become read again. Very annoying because it makes me skip over many threads an re-read many others. I am planning on installing some local CVS's of 2.2 to play around with tonight. Do you actually do any coding on it personally BFL?

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

Originally posted by baseballtwin86
My goodness, the VBull admin panel has pages and pages of options . Way too many IMHO . The one thing that annoys me in VBull is the lack of an indication that a thread has been read. They stay unread forever and ever even if I have already read it, then, all of a sudden, all become read again. Very annoying because it makes me skip over many threads an re-read many others. I am planning on installing some local CVS's of 2.2 to play around with tonight. Do you actually do any coding on it personally BFL?

You'll love 2.2 CVS Such fun to play with, the admin panel permissions is brilliant I don't code phpBB, no...there's a little something which I helped code which should be coming with 2.0.2

 

[Sodapop]

that is wrong, wrong, wrong! I'm offended by that

Bah get offended as much as you want, vbull is still not entirely crap like you say

That is also wrong wrong wrong! phpBB template system is a lot better

Doesn't vbull allow you to mod the templates through the admin panel? If so then, phpbb's is only a bit better

wrong!

Continue to get offended, but they mostly have the same features, so I call them almost the same anyway

Oh, and a few months older helps a lot for software maturity, so I'll continue to say vbull is more mature than phpbb.

But the rest about the community and the quick answer is true though

And I must say that the CVS of 2.2 looks great indeed

 

[baseballtwin86]

Originally posted by Unknown soldier
And I must say that the CVS of 2.2 looks great indeed

Well, I tried to install the CVS at lycos.co.uk, just to fool around with, but it would not install correctly. What does CVS mean anyway? They are both nearly the same, although one is free and one is not, and in the long run, the free ones usually get more support and better people working on them.

This is a bit OT, but this is the error message during the install:

SQL ERROR [ mysql ]

Duplicate entry 'default_lang' for key 1

PAGE

/baseballtwin/install/install.php&

SQL

INSERT INTO phpbb_config (config_name, config_value) VALUES ('default_lang', 'english')

And did anyone see that new theme released by Daz today. That was sweet. I think that phpBB install was very easy when I did it, and the support for it is phenomenal. Many talented people code for it all the time.

EDIT: Well, i got it to work but can't login .

 

[Sodapop]

CVS stands for Current Version Snapshot or something. Anyway, they are the most up to date files, but they may not be stable. That's one more positive for phpbb. Average user can participate in the creation and the quality of the software trought cvs by reporting bugs. On your problem baseballtwin, well there is nothing you can do, except wait tomorrow hoping this part will be fixed

Oh, and I know this is old stuff from page 1, but anyway. If developpers were about to leave the project there would surely be a lot of people ready to continue and to try to imrpove it. That makes one more positive point for phpbb, as the project will probably never die because of a lack of funding.

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

Originally posted by Unknown soldier

Bah get offended as much as you want, vbull is still not entirely crap like you say

I didn't say that, I said that phpBB templating engine is a lot better than vBull's, which is true.

Doesn't vbull allow you to mod the templates through the admin panel? If so then, phpbb's is only a bit better

I don't know, does it?? being able to edit it through the admin panel doesn't make it much better

Continue to get offended, but they mostly have the same features

no they don't

But the rest about the community and the quick answer is true though

And I must say that the CVS of 2.2 looks great indeed [/B]

ok, I agree with both of those

What does CVS mean anyway?

Concurrent versions system

They are both nearly the same,

no they're not

[quoteThis is a bit OT, but this is the error message during the install:[/quote]

run the mySQL schema manually

And did anyone see that new theme released by Daz today. That was sweet.

hell yeah!

EDIT: Well, i got it to work but can't login .

strip the admin verification and you won't have to to see the admin panel (which is where you can see the most changes currently)

 

[baseballtwin86]

One can look at the CVS of 2.2 installed at http://members.lycos.co.uk/phpbbtest/phpBB2-1-x/index.php . Login as administrator, username: GIMP , password admin . I finally go it functioning after figuring out the template caching and now all admin functions are working properly .

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

Originally posted by baseballtwin86
One can look at the CVS of 2.2 installed at http://members.lycos.co.uk/phpbbtest/phpBB2-1-x/index.php . Login as administrator, username: GIMP , password admin . I finally go it functioning after figuring out the template caching and now all admin functions are working properly .

wow, you got that working well GIMP admin looks fuller than mine does, I'll have to update soon. and it's 2.1 CVS, not 2.2 non-admin changes are starting to come through too, especially on the 2.2 test board at http://area51.phpbb.com/phpBB22/

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

gonzo! argue! now!

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

Hmm.... I'll have my write up in a week or so, if someone else would like to visit the sites and make a write up please do so as work has been hell ever since I got back from vacation.

All I can say is that phpBB < VB.

VB 3.0 is gonna rock and NO, it is not a copy of phpBBs features despite what some non-paid phpBB geek may have stated so