Comments on: Simple Machines Forum (SMF) vs phpBB – Which Is The Best Free Forum Software?

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:12:19 +0000

Hi williambit,
I suggest you post this question on the SMF Forum, rather than my blog.
Jill

By: williambit

williambit — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:35:05 +0000

Hi, just registered today, can someone give me some suggestions on which ebooks or guides are good for newbies like me?

By: Shawn L.

Shawn L. — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:24:55 +0000

Jill,

Great advice. I had been using phpBB for setting up and playing with forums. I have already installed SMF at one site and was researching what to change my other two sites to.

Based on your advice, I am going with SMF. I would rather focus my energy into managing one set of forum software than two.

Thanks. Wait a few weeks and then visit it at http://www.motivationtricks.com to see if I have done well with it!

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:47:27 +0000

Hi Jim,
First off, this isn’t a forum – it’s a blog post – and therefore, this isn’t the right place for your question. I have no idea what “forex” is, suggest you look elsewhere for your answer.

By: jimbomel

jimbomel — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:44:41 +0000

Hi people,

I recently registered to this forum aldebaranwebdesign.com and hope that somebody can
give me an advice on the forex – I am looking for an introduction
for noobs. I have already some knowledge about shares. (Hope this is the right category.)

Any help is so much appreciated. Most important question: can a noob make money on the forex market?

Thanks,
Jim

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:46:57 +0000

Hi Mohd,
I have no idea…I’ve never used vBulletin.

By: Mohd

Mohd — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:43:47 +0000

SMF Vs vBulletin, which one is better?

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:15:34 +0000

I’ve always known SMF to be the best out of the lot. Infact, it’s up there with Vbulletin i reckon. phpBB is like using a truck to learn how to drive.

lol

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:34:10 +0000

Hi Zoe,
I suggest posting your issue in the SMF Forum:
http://www.simplemachines.org/support/

But from the error message, it appears as if PHP might not be installed on your server. I know that a way to check is to upload a file, call it whatever you want: “test.php” and inside it have this:

< ? phpinfo() ?>
(you might need a semicolon after (), but I can’t enter it here)

and it will show you all kinds of info about the PHP installation.

By: zoe

zoe — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:34:04 +0000

I really need some help. I use earthlink and they have the phpbb easy to install but I want the smf forum! I’ve downloaded and installed it (smf) but am doing something wrong evidently, because it is not starting installation when I put the address in the address bar.

the following is the beginning of what does load.

Error!Sorry, this installer requires PHP!

// Database info.

Thanks,
desperately seeking an smf geek squad

Zoe

By: Kristen Harrison

Kristen Harrison — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:26:03 +0000

I am about to set up a Forum which I’d like to be able to integrate with a new WordPress blog (idmfrance.wordpress.com). Sounds like SMF is the best solution – very grateful for the advice, thanks.
Kristen

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:08:53 +0000

Hi Edward,
I’m glad you found this article helpful and I’m sure you’ll enjoy SMF – best of luck to your new forum and thanks for the comment.

By: WebMusketeer.com

WebMusketeer.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:01:22 +0000

Our company, WebMusketeer.com, provides low cost domain name registration, hosting, and marketing tools.

We are in the process of developing a few forums but were not sure on whether to use Simple Machines Forum or phpBB.

Fortunately, we stumbled across your blog after doing a Google search. SMF clearly seems to be the painless way to go.

Thanks for sharing your very informative experience!

Edward Soorany
President
WebMusketeer.com
a Division of Intercan Marketing Group Inc.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:39:55 +0000

I love Simple Machines. The package manager is so simple! I, too, started off with phpBB because of a 1-Click install at DreamHost. FTP’ing the files myself took about 45 minutes, which I really hate doing.

Then I learned just a touch of bash scripting…. now I’m actually faster than the DH 1-Click installer. (This does require you to use SSH or Telnet…. just upload the zip file, then unzip it through the shell, bottabing-bottaboom)

By: George

George — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:43:23 +0000

I have been making forums for over 8 years, I was a pro with IPB I knew it inside and out, but then they decided to make you pay.

I recently came back into making sites, and after going through MANY forum systems, SMF came out on top easily. It is SO simple yet SO advanced at the same time.

I really hope it stays free!

By: Wesley

Wesley — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:41:20 +0000

I also installed the phpBB forum from the dreamhost control panel because it was so easy to get up and running. However after trying to install a couple different plug-ins I realized something was wrong. Simple machines looks awesome and I’m happy I didn’t wait too long to make the switch. There appears to be plenty of cool plug-ins that I am excited about installing too. The forum is for the San Juan Islands; I will be using it for news and headlines on our live camera website. Check it out here http://www.Desticam.com

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:37:42 +0000

Hi,

I love SMF, I have tried loads of forum software after IPB went ‘pay for’ and I always go back to SMF lol

I love it for the way you can swap the forums around, have child boards etc. I love it for the ease of upgrading to the new versions..
…actually I just love SMF…lmaooooooooo

I have WordPress for nature but for a forum its got to be SMF!
K

By: Jill Olkoski

Jill Olkoski — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:12:06 +0000

Hi Linda,
You’re very welcome. I wish I had know this before I installed phpBB, but live and learn Thanks for the comment.

By: Linda Martin-Peoples

Linda Martin-Peoples — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:10:05 +0000

I had heard that Simple Machines was the way to go…
thanks for the comparison to phpBB!