The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5)

Message board software

I'm looking for a simple, efficient board to run on a Linux/Apache server. Simple interface and sign-up procedure, to make it as easy as possible for the user to come in and join the discussion, kind of like this board.

Any suggestions?

Superfly Johnson
Monday, December 15, 2003

I use phpBB.

Pros:
- easy to set up ( I had it up in an hour or so including time to install php).
- easy to post, it allows people to post without a logon similar to JOS.
- Allows usernames - unlike JOS users can sign up for a logon and then no one can post under that username.
- By default active threads "bubble" to the top of forums and if you are logged in it flags posts you haven't read yet.
- Free

Cons:
I don't know php so I can't really modify it's behavior a lot.

NathanJ
Monday, December 15, 2003

Interesting. However, at first glance it looks like it puts a lot of crap in each thread link. Can it be configured to a more minimal display mode that looks like this forum?

Sam Livingston-Gray
Monday, December 15, 2003

I'm not sure what you mean by crap in the link. On my setup here is the url for one of the threads:

/forums/viewtopic.php?t=107

On JOS it is this:
joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=95235&ixReplies=2

If you are talking about the html formating of the tables then I guess it does take up more screen space for each thread. I imagine you can modify that stuff fairly easily, but I haven't poked under the covers enough to find out.

NathanJ
Monday, December 15, 2003

Guess I could've been more clear. Yes, I meant the *visible* crap, e.g., the tables, graphics, number of replies, etc -- all of which detract from the ability to quickly scan through a list of topics like you can here. (=

Sam Livingston-Gray
Monday, December 15, 2003

I use anyboard and like it.

http://netbula.com/anyboard/

Mike
Monday, December 15, 2003

PHPbb can probably be templated. This means you can set it up to display whatever info you want next to the posts.

Another package worth looking at is Invision Power Board.

Full name
Wednesday, December 17, 2003