Anyone Run A Forum?
 

Just curious how many people run (or used to run) a forum and what software did they use?

I used to manage a vBulletin forum way back when version 4 still wasn't out. In the process of starting a new forum and decided to try Xenforo instead of the usual choices people go with (like vBulletin or phpBB).

Used to run/manage a few - vBulletin, IPB and phpBB. Mostly only dealt with minor stuff like themes and what not.

VBull for me.

Nothing but disaster with phpbb. Damn hackers.

Used to run a forum in universiTy,used phpbb.

Bump....

Not many people were likely following this, so Coles Notes.

- vBulletin software was developed by a company known as Jelsoft.
- Two key developers (plus two others) at vBulletin didn't like the way vB was going after IB (Internet Brands) bought out vB from Jelsoft.
- They start their own forum software company called Xenforo.
- They release Xenforo and are promptly sued by IB in the UK and US. IB claims Xenforo relied on vB IP.
- After a lengthy period of court dates and hearings, IB and Xenforo settled, but terms of the settlement are confidential (this happened yesterday).

The good news is Xenforo is now continuing development with their far superior forum software. IMO (after working with the underlying code in vB and Xenforo) is they are nothing alike at all. Xenforo is a ground-up effort to build a better forum. vB suffers from many legacy issues due to how the underlying software is designed.

The common belief is that IB tried to run Xenforo into the ground by filing lawsuits that placed a heavy demand on the resources of Xenforo (a small company with a few employees compared to the very large IB). This actually worked for awhile as Xenforo updates were late getting released and many add-on developers stopped working on projects with the uncertainty of the lawsuit hanging over them. The lawsuit is settled and Xenforo development is back on track.

So it looks like the little guy won and the bully (IB) didn't succeed in burying Xenforo.
Posted via RS Mobile

A little too late but I run a vBulletin forum. phpBB gets too many hackers.

Thanks for the info, I was looking into upgrading the forum software here, but didn't really want to leave VB since it has been rock solid for me for over a decade. I will look into Xenforo as another option!

I'm running one on phpBB, pretty happy with it. Been admin and mod on a few other phpBB sites as well. I find it's a nice system, lots of good mods and themes. Found a mobile theme for the one I'm running now, it just dropped right in, none of the weird shit I see with the RS mobile theme.

Haven't seen hacker issues with any of these three (all running phpBB3).

There's a good chance Xenforo would reduce your server load and save bandwidth/money right off the bat. It's fast and efficient. Only drawback is not as many add-ons as vBulletin or others, but that will change soon. Activity at Xenforo has gone up significantly since the lawsuit has ended and I imagine a lot of developers are seeing a great oppurtunity to be first with new ideas.

Wait until you get big. ;)

the forums i used to run were all on invision power board

The moment the a phpBB forum gets on to Google or you try to monetize it, you get hacked like no tomorrow. phpBB is a real pain.

One of them that I was a moderator on for a while, is possibly the largest CCTV board around. Search for just about anything CCTV-related, and it will appear in the top five results.

As I say, I'm not aware of it ever actually being hacked (no idea about attempts, though).

YMMV