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The green was kinda getting a little old (not that there was anything wrong with it). The blue is a little easier on the eyes and more inviting IMHO. ;DBut it's time to upgrade the forum anyway. ::)
[eyes closed, shaking my head] 😉Actually, it reverted to this blue because I had to upgrade to SMF1.1.13, and I didn't bother fixing the theme afterwards. I use the default theme because it's easiest for installing different mods, but what I was thinking was that I can simply offer different themes for people and let them know they might miss out on some functionality if they don't use the default. I have been in the process of switching web hosts, and once I do that I will upgrade to SMF 2. The problem is that all this takes time, and with my course load and teaching I have a hard time justifying putting a lot of effort into all of that rather than working on a paper. But perhaps I'll find time nonetheless one of these days.
You've had at least four web hosts since I've known you. 🙂What mods are you thinking about installing?
Four hosts….that many? 🙂I know a couple of years ago I had a host who was really good, but he got bought out by some guy who basically defrauded me and had bad service, so I left. My current host is actually pretty good, but the price is a bit higher than what I want to pay. Hence, the decision to move on.I don't really have any mods in mind that I want to install (aside from the ones I have installed already), but if I go to SMF and look around, there are bound to be some cool ones that I can't resist. Perhaps an updated Twitter mod. You have some nice mods as well that I woudn't mind putting here.
I really do like smf 2.0, but I'm hearing that their development is slowing down and many folks are switching to MyBB (hence my decision to try it for GAA). There was some talk that SMF might dissolve or something, but it didn't. Still something isn't the same with them.
Really? Where did you hear that? I have noticed that it progression to SMF 2.0 has been like molasses…they had SMF 2.0 RCs or beta versions back in 2008, because I installed that for my inauguration site. So almost three years later, and still nothing? I just know that there is a lot of forum software options out there, and much of it (from what I have seen) isn't really that great. However, I really haven't entertained options for replacing SMF in the past few years, but maybe I should have a look around.
No SMF is still right up there, but there have been complaints about its scalability (becoming a large high traffic board)….which is bunk. The same knock on MyBB is out there too, but I've been on several MyBB sites that are quite active and they do fine. SMF is still the easiest to customize and upgrade, but MyBB is very user friendly too. MyBB is newer and has a smaller development community, but it is growing and is active. SMF has had some internal strife among its developers (which is not unexpected with such a large project). I read about this on an SMF community site though I can't remember which one.
Have you guys looked at bbPress as a forum software? I would guess there would be issues with migrating the forum database but I am only an amatuer when it comes to web-stuff. I continually play around with my WordPress site but I have not tried any serious coding for fear of screwing it up to the point where it no longer works.
I used to use PunBB (and still love it) for it's small size and sheer simplicity. It is the “Gentoo Linux” of forum software. Meaning, you get a base install and then you configure it how you want afterwards. However, that takes time and from what I am reading you need something that has the work done for you mostly.I think SMF is ending up a LOT like phpBB, which for quite a while reigned supreme (it was the free alternative to running a vBulletin forum - I still have my vB license but have no idea what version they are into now).For now I'd say stick with SMF... I suspect that even like vB if things slow down it won't disappear completely.
I don't recall having tried out either bbPress or PunBB, but I suppose I could take a look sometime over at opensourcecms. This forum originally used phpbb, which has some cool mods (we even had the shop mod installed with historical items in it to buy). But after a while, I realized the upgrading and mod installation system was simply too much work since you have to cut/paste all that code by hand (I'm guessing that has changed by now). With SMF, upgrading and installing mods has been a relatively streamlined task.
With SMF, upgrading and installing mods has been a relatively streamlined task.
Then PunBB is out... it is a "hands-on" forum package. It's for the admin who wants total control over the board including the actual code. Based on CSS and requires understanding of both XHTML and CSS. THere are a few "plug-ins" but all in all it's a programmers software. That is why I only reccommend it if the person has significant time to invest in configuration and modifications.Honestly, I'd say stay with SMF... it's a great package.
