There is a huge variety of open source, free, forums out there.
When choosing one, most people go for the most popular choice, phpBB. Noticeable alternatives include, SMF and FUDforum, both having their own strengths and weaknesses, but if you really wanted an enterprise grade forum, one that could handle many many users and many posts, you’d have to look at Invision (once free, bitches) and vBulliten, both cost money, but offer a ton of features that phpBB2 and its alternatives simply lack.
I’ve not been a big fan of phpBB2, I find it too simple, and yet in many ways too complex to administrate when it comes to permissions. It lacks a ton of features most consider requirements to modern forums. However it grew popular fast, because many people didn’t care about the features, it was easy to use when all you wanted to perform was simple tasks and you wanted a simple forum. So phpBB2 grew to be the most used open source forum – with it came a shower of security problems, which has made it infamous among administrators.
Many probably know that phpBB3 has been in work for many years, had many setbacks, delays, looks and deadlines. Recently I noticed phpBB3 was finally out, and decided to upgrade a rather large phpBB2 forum to phpBB3.
I have to say, hands down, it was the most complete and impressive installation, data migration and upgrade I have ever seen from any open source software I have used, it was smooth and without any issues – all data was migrated, posts, permissions, groups, images, settings – everything.
phpBB3 is simply a complete package, polished in look and feel. I’ve looked at every single administrative item and I didn’t think “this is not completely done yet” even once. Considering it has the version number 3.0.0, I am utterly impressed.
This is how every open source product should release their milestones and I applaud the phpBB team in managing to make everything so smooth and leaving me with nothing but a smile.
phpBB3 simply leaves all the other open source alternatives in th dust. It feels like the only forum software you will need and I can highly recommend anyone to upgrade their phpBB2 forums as soon as possible, there is no reason not to.
Now let’s hope they can keep the security issues to a minimal.. Remember to update, kids.
Download phpBB3, here.