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Discussion: Thoughts on phpBB versus IP.Board (IPB) ?


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One of the things that HITMAN-X- suggested was using IP.Board, aka Invision Board or just "IPB", if a forum move was to actually take place. Right now the Paint.NET forums are using phpBB version 3.

Here is the IP.Board website: http://www.invisionpower.com/community/board/

Who here has used both IPB and phpBB? What are your thoughts on the differences? Do you like IPB better, or phpBB? For those who moderate or administrate a forum, what has been your experience between the two?

This is NOT a thread for discussing if the forum will be moved, nor any ancillary or logistical things like reputation systems, post counts, hosting, the current forum downtime and problems, how much you hate/love Forumer, etc. I ONLY want to know what people think about IPB versus phpBB as an end-user (forum member) or moderator/admin. Thank you in advance.

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I have used (and managed) both. My experience with both were positive, but both had their ups and downs.

phpBB3 is easy to use, easy to mod, has a large fanbase, is easy to install, but its lack of support is its major downfall. With so much going for the creators of phpBB3, you would think they would lend their hand in helping out. This is not my recommendation.

IP.Board is by far the best. Easy installation, GREAT fanbase, not many mods, and best of all: fantastic support. If it wasnt for the support with this peice of PHP software I wouldnt even consider it. Which, of course, you dont even need the support because this software so rarely fails you dont even think about problems. As well, it is SO MUCH easier to manage. So much easier! IP.Board ftw in my opinion. And I have dealt with both.

I hope this helps you out!

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In my personal experience, I prefer phpBB over IP. It has all the great features, but in a less confusing and unnecessary manner. I've been using phpBB on yatazen for a while now, and everything is completely smooth. The admin panel is easy to work (As I'm sure you know, but you can't access server-side features on forumer) and it's overall interface organization is superb.

The phpBB moderation system is also, in my opinion, the best I have experienced.

In other words, I support phpBB because of it's simplicity and ease of installation/use.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former"

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I said what I have to say. It's probably best I stay out of this because I just know I'm going to get really irked at the debate.

I am with you Yata. I am backing out now. I hope our advice helped Rick! PM me if you want to ask anything else because I have a bad feeling about this thread...

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I used both and I got to say IPB is the best by far. It was good back when it was 2.0.X but even better now that it is 2.3.4. There not much need to mod it as it has most things people want vs phpBB that needs lots of modding just to get what a forum should give you. As for doing the modding it is the best as most of the time you can edit the pages and code right from the admin control panel instead of doing it by downloading files and re-uploading them.

However it is something to learn your way around when 1st setting it up. But after it is setup you don't have to worry about them settings really. Settings like how much CPU should be used, RAM to be used, and network times. Things that phpBB don't even give you power over. Security is another thing I like about IPB. If you need help you can contact IPB or look at the 169 page document on every setting there is in there and how to use them.

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IPB is better , IPB also support more modifications , like arcade games , shops , ...

its difficult but once you know it its the best forum software you can have ,

i suggest IPB .

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IPB, but this would have been good as a poll

It's not going to be a democratic decision. Rick is going to make the decision. :-)

I refrain from voting, because I've never used IPB. I like phpBB3, because that's what I know and use most easily. But I also pick up new concepts quickly, so I should be able to learn IPB with a minimum of difficulty if we go to that.

 

The Doctor: There was a goblin, or a trickster, or a warrior... A nameless, terrible thing, soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos. And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world.
Amy: But how did it end up in there?
The Doctor: You know fairy tales. A good wizard tricked it.
River Song: I hate good wizards in fairy tales; they always turn out to be him.

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i dont use either but i know forums that use them :D

obviously us here every now and then it goes down :(

on the other hand ipb is far superiour i know two forums that use it...both have points and reputation and from what i know have never gone down!

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i dont use either but i know forums that use them :D

obviously us here every now and then it goes down :(

on the other hand ipb is far superiour i know two forums that use it...both have points and reputation and from what i know have never gone down!

This site going down is not the forum software but the SQL Servers. The only time it be the forum software is if you mod it and the mod does not work the way it should.

It best to not base your opinons off down time but on stuff the board can give to you with out making it hard.

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i dont use either but i know forums that use them :D

obviously us here every now and then it goes down :(

on the other hand ipb is far superiour i know two forums that use it...both have points and reputation and from what i know have never gone down!

This site going down is not the forum software but the SQL Servers. The only time it be the forum software is if you mod it and the mod does not work the way it should.

It best to not base your opinons off down time but on stuff the board can give to you with out making it hard.

oh sorry

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I'd prefer IPB over phpBB. It tends to be safer, and much easier to mod from my experience. phpBB tends to have a few bugs while IPB used to be smooth-sailing all the way.

Also, how many large forums do you see running off phpBB? Not very many, as the majority of the biggies prefer Invasion Power (or vBulletin) for their massive traffic communities. And also notice that the nerdier forums tend to ignore phpBB...

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Which one does Forumer use? Let's use the one that's not that. ;-)

 

The Doctor: There was a goblin, or a trickster, or a warrior... A nameless, terrible thing, soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all the cosmos. And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world.
Amy: But how did it end up in there?
The Doctor: You know fairy tales. A good wizard tricked it.
River Song: I hate good wizards in fairy tales; they always turn out to be him.

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Yes, but David: the point is to maintain your servers. Simply because Forumer abuses its database doesnt mean the database doesnt work. If Rick-being a developer-uses phpMyAdmin to do his server work and actually do server work then there shouldnt be a problem.

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Rarely do you need to touch phpMyAdmin when running phpBB. Unless you're installing a mod or manually removing something, then there's absolutely no need. The installation injects sql scripts automatically.

And I prefer MySQL. It's what I know.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former"

[ dA Paint.NET Chat :: Yata on dA ]

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Rick, IPB seems to offer some sort of 8-hour demo. I'm not sure how functional that is, or if my idea would be possible, but if it is possible, then maybe the best way to determine if IPB is better than phpBB would be to sign up for that demo and let the users from here run rampant on that one, so that you as an admin can get the full experience of actually running that kind of forum, and we can give more valuable input on what we as regular forum members like and don't like about it.

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I got both MySQL and MSSQL databases with my host. I have never used MSSQL for any forums. I am not sure if there better but I do know that most mods are for MySQL database meaning it would be a pain to do modding on MSSQL as you may find yourself having to add things in by hand. Also IPB don't give you drivers for MSSQL database's so you would have to buy them for $60.00. I say to stay with MySQL as it's more common.

@ pyrochild: In the last topic before it was locked I told Rick if he wants to try IPB or phpBB to let me know and I would set it up in a few hours. I also said if he wants IPB then I have no problem with setting mine up as I don't use it anyway and it would make some use of it. It would aslo be good on him as he would not have to pay $149.99 for a license + $50 every year. I would only ask he pay $25 for 6 months out of the year and I pay the other 6 months to keep tech support and upgrades.

So if I get the word I will do it.

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